Easter takes charge
Harlequins No.8 Nick Easter will lead the England side for the first time in a Test match against Samoa at Twickenham this weekend.
Easter takes the leadership reins over from Lewis Moody in a starting line-up showing four changes to the one that beat Australia 35-18 last week.
Three are in the forward pack and one in the backline as England prepare to face a Samoan side beaten 20-10 by Ireland last weekend.
South African born flank Hendre Fourie makes his first start for England alongside fellow loose forward James Haskell. The two replace Moody and Tom Croft respectively, while David Wilson is in for Dan Cole at tighthead prop.
Matt Banahan replaces Mike Tindall at outside centre to win his sixth cap after five previous appearances on the wing.
Cole and Croft are on the bench for the third Test match of the season with David Attwood back among the replacements in place of Simon Shaw.
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter (captain), 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 James Haskell, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Dan Cole, 18 David Attwood, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Danny Care, 21 Charlie Hodgson, 22 Delon Armitage.
Date: Saturday, November 20
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Alan Lewis (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
