Tom Johnson named in England 23 for Wales clash

The Rugby Paper Team

10 years ago

Stuart Lancaster has called on Tom Johnson to face Wales on Sunday at Twickenham.
The Exeter back-row comes into the matchday squad replacing the injured Billy Vunipola but Gloucester No.8 Ben Morgan is expected to start at the back of the scrum with Johnson on the bench.
There is no place in the 23-man squad for Manu Tuilagi, who only made his return to competition with Leicester last week after five months out, but the Tigers centre will stay at Pennyhill Park with London Wasps prop Matt Mullan to train with the squad.
Lancaster said: “The performance against Ireland has given us a lot of confidence going into this game against a high quality Welsh team and we feel it's right to give the bulk of that 23 another opportunity. Tom Johnson has trained with us throughout and we are looking forward to his contribution.
“There is a lot of competition for places and to have Marland (Yarde) and Manu (Tuilagi) back training with us this week has been great. With Leicester and Wasps not involved in the LV= Cup semi-finals this weekend we are able to keep Matt (Mullan) to provide cover in the front row and also to give Manu more time to get up to speed with the team.”
England squad to face Wales:
Forwards: David Attwood (Bath), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Sale), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester)
Returning to clubs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Ed Slater (Leicester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester).