Stuart Lancaster
England coach Stuart Lancaster made three changes to his matchday squad to face Samoa on Saturday, as he looks to end a five-match losing streak.
Richard Wigglesworth, James Haskell and Billy Twelvetrees will make their first appearances in a matchday squad in the year-end Tests, after being named among the 23 players to face Samoa in the third international this month.
Saracens scrumhalf Wigglesworth, who won the last of his 14 Test caps on the 2013 tour to Argentina, replaces the starting No 9 from the three-point defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, Harlequins’ Danny Care.
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Similarly, Wasps back row forward Haskell adds the experience of 51 Test appearances in taking the place of Saracens No 8 Billy Vunipola and Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees is in for Bath’s Kyle Eastmond, who suffered concussion against the Springboks.
Lancaster said he always planned to look at options during a four-game series and is rewarding players for their form.
“We always wanted to use these four games to look at options in our squad and Billy, Richard and James have been in great form for their clubs and pressing hard in training,” the coach said.
“We always wanted to use these four games to look at options.
“Kyle has not been able to train due to the graduated return to play protocol and will return to Bath to continue that process and hopefully he should be available for his club this weekend along with the other released players.”
Looking to arrest a run of five straight defeats on Saturday, Lancaster added: “We’ve got another full day of training tomorrow [Wednesday] and the players are fully focused on another tough challenge against Samoa.”
Those players returning to their Premiership clubs include Luther Burrell, Danny Care, Calum Clark, Kyle Eastmond and Billy Vunipola.
The starting team to play Samoa will be announced later on Wednesday.
England squad:
Forwards: Dave Attwood, Kieran Brookes, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Ben Morgan,
Matt Mullan, Chris Robshaw (Captain), Rob Webber, David Wilson, Tom Wood.
Backs: Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonny May, Billy Twelvetrees, Anthony Watson, Richard Wigglesworth,
Marland Yarde, Ben Youngs.