Six Nations 2013: England include Billy Twelvetrees and Calum Clark

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Lancaster 'excited' by England squad

Uncapped pair Billy Twelvetrees and Calum Clark have been named in a 33-man England squad for the Six Nations.

Gloucester centre Twelvetrees, 24, has forged an effective club partnership with Freddie Burns, who is one of three fly-halves in the squad.

Northampton flanker Clark, 23, served a 32-week ban last season for breaking Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins's elbow.

Burns, lock Joe Launchbury, hooker Tom Youngs and prop Mako Vunipola are formally promoted to the senior squad.

England kick off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Twickenham on 2 February.

The requirement for an eight-man replacements' bench means senior squads have been increased to 33 players, with Vunipola the additional prop.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster is confident Clark has learned his lesson from the Hawkins incident and that he has both the temperament and the ability to succeed at the highest level.

"He has been harnessing the competitive nature he has got, which you want in players to win games, but he is channelling that in the right way," said Lancaster, who coached Clark when he was at the Leeds academy.

"He has had tough lessons to learn. I have coached him since he was 14, I probably know him better than most.

"I know what he can offer. In addition to his desire to win, his versatility in the second row is an option for us. He is incredibly athletic and very good in the contact areas."

In March, Clark pleaded guilty to injuring Hawkins in the LV Cup final and was banned from 22 March to 1 November, ruling him out of England's summer tour plans and the autumn internationals.

With Wasps lock Launchbury, 21, also included, both Mouritz Botha and Tom Palmer drop out of the squad.

Saracens wing David Strettle has been recalled, with Gloucester's Charlie Sharples dropping out, while Leicester flanker Tom Croft, who only recently returned after neck surgery, is also included.

Wasps back-row James Haskell is preferred to Phil Dowson of Northampton, who drops into the second-string Saxons squad.

On Tuesday, Leicester fly-half Toby Flood was cleared to play in the Six Nations after a citing for an alleged tip tackle was dismissed at a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing.

He was cited for a dangerous tackle on Worcester counterpart Andy Goode in the Tigers' 19-14 Premiership win.

Twelvetrees replaces Leicester's Anthony Allen, Burns takes over from Harlequins' Jordan Turner-Hall, and Leicester's Youngs replaces injured Bath hooker Rob Webber.

Burns, Launchbury, Youngs and Vunipola were officially acting as injury cover when they helped England to a record 38-21 victory over the All Blacks in December.

"It was a tight call between Billy Twelvetrees and Anthony Allen but we wanted to get a chance to work with Billy," said Lancaster.

"The opportunity for David Strettle has come alongside a move to the left wing [at Saracens]. His form has been outstanding but Mike Brown was fantastic there against the All Blacks."

Vunipola's younger brother Billy, the Wasps number eight, will train with England in their pre-Six Nations camp in Leeds later this month as cover for Croft.

Wasps wing Christian Wade and Bath's former rugby league star Kyle Eastmond are in the Saxons squad, which also includes another league convert in Saracens centre Joel Tomkins.

The Saxons play the Irish Wolfhounds on 25 January and Scotland A in Newcastle on 1 February.

England senior elite player squad:

Forwards: Props: A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), J Marler (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Wilson (Bath Rugby); Hookers: D Hartley (Northampton Saints), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Locks: J Launchbury (London Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), G Parling (Leicester Tigers); Back-rows: C Clark (Northampton Saints), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), J Haskell (London Wasps), T Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), B Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), C Robshaw (Harlequins), T Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), T Wood (Northampton Saints).

Backs: Back three: C Ashton (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), B Foden (Northampton Saints), A Goode (Saracens), D Strettle (Saracens); Centres: B Barritt (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby); Fly-halves: F Burns (Gloucester Rugby), O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester Tigers); Scrum-halves: D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton Saints), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

England Saxons elite player squad:

Forwards: Props: N Catt (Bath Rugby), P Doran Jones (Northampton Saints), S Knight (Gloucester Rugby), M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), H Thomas (Sale Sharks). Hookers: J Gray (Harlequins), D Paice (London Irish); Locks: M Botha (Saracens), L Deacon (Leicester Tigers), G Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), T Palmer (London Wasps), G Robson (Harlequins); Back-rows: P Dowson (Northampton Saints), W Fraser (Saracens), M Kvesic (Worcester Warriors), E Slater (Leicester Tigers), B Vunipola (London Wasps).

Backs: Back three: N Abendanon (Bath Rugby), T Biggs (Bath Rugby), K Eastmond (Bath Rugby), J May (Gloucester Rugby), U Monye (Harlequins), C Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), C Wade (London Wasps); Centres: A Allen (Leicester Tigers), E Daly (London Wasps), G Lowe (Harlequins), J Tomkins (Saracens), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins); Fly-halves: G Ford (Leicester Tigers); Scrum-halves: J Simpson (London Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Saracens).

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365 comments

  • Comment posted by salako, at 13:28 9 Jan 2013

    Would have preferred Wade instead of Strettle and Vunipola over Waldrom. Easter would be a better option that Waldrom if Lancaster is prepared to pick a player in his 30s.

    What does Varndell have to do to get a Saxons call up?!

    The squad is starting to come together though.

  • Comment posted by U15567877, at 13:28 9 Jan 2013

    Calum Clark. I can't believe he has been awarded with a place in the England squad with such a despicable disciplinary record.

  • Comment posted by willsappy, at 13:52 9 Jan 2013

    Very uncomfortable with Clark having any role in the England line up. What he did to Rob Hawkins was deliberate and potentially career ending. I'm not sure I want such a dirty player representing my country.

  • Comment posted by Irish_Steve, at 13:31 9 Jan 2013

    Calum Clark should be inside a courtroom after what he did....not running out for England.

  • Comment posted by 99call, at 13:57 9 Jan 2013

    Clark shouldnt be allowed on a rugby pitch, if you have it in your head that its ok to deliberately break another players arm theres something wrong with you and you shouldnt be allowed on a pitch again

  • Comment posted by BenWL, at 13:51 9 Jan 2013

    Varndell is probably missing like he generally is in defence. I reckon Calum Clarke has been twisting Stuart Lancaster's arm.......;^)

  • Comment posted by Roarz, at 13:43 9 Jan 2013

    Any squad with clark and hartley in is sure to be a happy, disciplined one.

  • Comment posted by U15486732, at 13:34 9 Jan 2013

    Cannot believe that Calum Clarke has been picked for England. He should be banned from the sport let alone be playing for his country. what a disgrace.

  • Comment posted by Lohengrin, at 21:32 9 Jan 2013

    James Matthew repeatedly "contributes" to BBC rugby blogs with such utter drivel it makes me wonder whether he's computer-generated. Somebody may have created a means of conflating vacuous and inane statements with the writing style of a cerebrally-challenged echidna leaving the rest of us to contend with insights akin to bovine flatulence negotiating its way through the small intestine.

  • Comment posted by U15568063, at 16:03 9 Jan 2013

    Still waiting impatiently for Steffon Armitage to be given his opportunity after consistently performing in the french league and still wondering what Brad Barritt brings to the squad and also... surely Wade over Strettle?!

  • Comment posted by andy3833, at 13:23 9 Jan 2013

    Pretty much agree with that apart from Wade should be in the senior squad ahead of Strettle, he is a winger who is scoring tries on a regular basis, what more should he do?

    Would of loved to see Billy Vunipola in there as well but can see why not as he is young/inexperienced and good performances in the Saxons will be great for his career.

  • Comment posted by mcfwinn, at 14:47 9 Jan 2013

    Callum Clark should be in prison. Not in the England dressing room.

  • Comment posted by U15314874, at 14:28 9 Jan 2013

    As expected for the most part
    I think Luke Arscott should have been called up for at least the Saxons. He has been playing really well and can attack from anywhere

  • Comment posted by Wilburforceful, at 13:33 9 Jan 2013

    Like the balance of the squad. Apart from Calum Clark. He is a liability, so many games hinge on the penalty count and yellow cards. He just hasn't got the wherewithal not to get pinged all the time.

  • Comment posted by MoonInUranus, at 13:22 9 Jan 2013

    Looks like a decent squad.

    Think Twelvetrees is probably a better player than Allen but as a Gloucester fan, I don't think he's ready for internationals yet (despite the insistence of Mr Barnes).
    His kicking out of hand is good, his passing is decent and he can defend but he doesn't really do much with ball in hand and he makes way, way too many errors.

    Good to see Launchbury promoted.

  • Comment posted by Sarrie d_camel, at 10:30 10 Jan 2013

    I am coming to the conclusion that the best thing about this squad is the level of competition for places. Nearly everyone has had their chance to shine at one point or another and bar a few select positions there is not only depth, but also options.
    I really think Lancaster has done a great job at finding a balanced team, especially in the pack, and having croft there is only a good dilemma

  • Comment posted by U13373541, at 20:38 9 Jan 2013

    It frightens me how many clueless people comment. For the first time in a long time I'm reasonably pleased with this squad. Shame about clark losing his head last year as he has the potential to be a top no.7.

  • Comment posted by U15164791, at 20:03 9 Jan 2013

    Why are Lee DICKSON and STRETTLE in the EPS!!!!! WHEN we have Joe SIMPSON and WADE.

    Strettle = 1 try this season........ Wade = 6.....!
    Dickson = 0 tries this season......Simpson = 2....!

    Wade and Simpson are not only younger, but are also the inform players - when compared with Strettle and Dickson and are FAR more exciting and creative!

    Lancaster you said you picked on form?! Well....?

  • Comment posted by U15567977, at 15:21 9 Jan 2013

    Is everyone forgetting Ben Morgan??
    Every time he gets the ball he makes ground.
    And is consistently solid even on the international stage.
    Waldrom wont start ahead of him any day.

  • Comment posted by B-Dog, at 15:02 9 Jan 2013

    Where is Wade?

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