England recall injured duo for Scots clash

Lock Courtney Lawes and fullback Mike Brown have been recalled for England’s Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday after recovering from injury.

Lawes has returned to fitness after an ankle problem and is in line to make his first international appearance since England’s 26-17 victory over Australia last November.

Brown sat out England’s 19-9 defeat by Ireland last time out after suffering concussion in the 47-17 win over Italy, with Alex Goode have taken his place.

Goode drops to the bench, where tighthead prop Kieran Brookes, second-row forward Geoff Parling and flanker Tom Wood have all been drafted into the match-day squad.

“There’s always a lot of competition for places and having experienced players like Courtney, Tom and Geoff available after playing well for their clubs in the last few weeks adds to our options,” head coach Stuart Lancaster said in a statement.

“It’s been an intense two weeks of training as everyone wants to be on that field on Saturday and we’ve had to make some tough selection calls.”

England’s loss in Dublin on March 1 left them two points below leaders Ireland in the table, while Scotland are bottom following successive losses to France, Wales and Italy.

England (15-1)

Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jack Nowell; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw (capt), James Haskell; Courtney Lawes, Dave Attwood; Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler

Res: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees.

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