Easter, Cipriani recalled by England
Harlequins No.8 Nick Easter is among 25 players recalled by Stuart Lancaster for the Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on Friday.
The 47-Test 36 year-old, who started the last time England won at the Millennium Stadium in 2011, is back after a three-and-a-half-year international hiatus, stretching back to the World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France the same year.
While Lancaster's group is shorn of a number of key players, including starters from last season's 29-18 victory over Wales David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Ben Morgan and Owen Farrell, the England Head Coach can call on a returning quartet of British and Irish Lions.
Leicester Tigers trio Dan Cole, Tom Croft and Tom Youngs make welcome returns to the international fold while Saracens loosehead prop Mako Vunipola is also back to join brother Billy after recovering from a dislocated knee cap.
Sale Sharks' in-form flyhalf Danny Cipriani is also back for the first time since last year's tour to New Zealand, while another player in blistering club form, Bath centre Jonathan Joseph, makes a first appearance since the 2013 tour to Argentina.
Lancaster is refusing to dwell on the injury problems his side is facing ahead of a huge game in Cardiff, instead focussing on the international know-how he is able to select.
"Everyone named is fit and ready to go and we are looking forward to finalising our preparations over the next few days.
"While we have certain players unavailable through injury, it's great to be able to welcome back guys who missed the November internationals such as Dan Cole, Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs.
"Their experience, alongside that of players like Tom Croft and Nick Easter, will be invaluable against a strong Welsh team.”
The squad re-assembled at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday, with the match-day 23 to face Wales announced Wednesday.
England squad:
Forwards: Dave Attwood, Kieran Brookes, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Nick Easter, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, George Kruis, Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw (captain), Henry Thomas, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola, Tom Youngs.
Backs: Mike Brown, Luther Burrell, Danny Cipriani, George Ford, Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Billy Twelvetrees, Anthony Watson, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Youngs.
Date: Friday, Februray 6
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 20.05 (20.05 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garcès
Assistant referees: Romain Poite, Mathieu Raynal
TMO: Simon McDowell
.@leicestertigers' Dan Cole is back in ENG squad. Rowntree says his job is to "scrum, scrum, scrum for us." #WALvENG https://t.co/K7W10N16Ul
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 3, 2015
#Cornwall or #Devon? @Nowellsy15 and @sladey_10 have their own views on the #playerdiary: http://t.co/nShSH4resy pic.twitter.com/J0uVTFdq8O
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 3, 2015
