ENGLAND’S INTERIM HEAD coach Stuart Lancaster has made just one change ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations finale against Ireland, with winger David Strettle returning to the starting XV.
Strettle started the first three games of the campaign, but was forced out of last weekend’s win in the Stade de France with a sternum injury and replaced by Gloucester’s Charlie Sharples.
Sharples misses out on the matchday 22 this weekend, with Lancaster choosing to stick with the same core of players who have featured in the tournament’s early games.
Ben Foden starts again at full-back. Foden, 26, returned to England’s training camp on Tuesday night following the birth of his baby daughter in London.
On the bench, Bath hooker Lee Mears is called up in place of Rob Webber who injured his shoulder during a brief substitute cameo late on against France.
“We feel that the players who put the effort in probably deserve the opportunity to play in this last game against Ireland,” Lancaster said.
“The one change will come on the wing with David Strettle passed fit now, so he’ll take his place back on the wing in place of Charlie who did great on his first outing in France. David gives us a bit more experience in that position.”
England: B Foden; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, B Barritt, D Strettle; O Farrell, L Dickson; A Corbisiero, D Hartley, D Cole; M Botha, G Parling; T Croft, C Robshaw (c), B Morgan. Replacements: L Mears, M Stevens, T Palmer, P Dowson, B Youngs, C Hodgson, M Brown.
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, G D’Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D O’Callaghan, D Ryan; S Ferris, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, T Court, M McCarthy, P O’Mahony, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, F McFadden.
