Ashton and Youngs dropped from England Squad

England stars Chris Ashton and Ben Youngs have both been dropped from their countries 2014 Six Nations squad for the opening match with France on Saturday.

Rookies Luther Burrell, George Ford, Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson were all included in the squad and will be looking to be blooded during the tournament.

 “Ben misses out this time but he is a quality player and I am sure he will respond in the same way Danny did at the start of the year. We have been pleased with the form of Chris recently. However, Jack has made great progress on the right wing and has also delivered in big games for Exeter Chiefs and we feel it is the right time to look at another option in that position. Said Coach Stuart Lancaster.

“Chris remains an important member of the squad and I am sure he will be working hard to regain that position during the course of the Six Nations. Competition for places is intense and we have tough selection choices to make across the team. The young players have really impressed and based on their club form and what they have done in training with us they deserve their opportunity.” He continued

The match day squad will be announced on Thursday.

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England squad:

Forwards: David Attwood (Bath), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks),Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Backs: Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Anthony Watson (Bath).

England call on a rookie, a Saffa and a veteran after injuries take their toll

England coach Stuart Lancaster has been forced to call on uncapped Worcester loose forward Matt Kvezic, Saracens lock Mouritz Botha and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye after a series of injury blows to his squad.

Botha replaces Northampton’s Callum Clark (shoulder),  Kvesic replaces Exeters Tom Johnson (knee) and Monye comes in for general backline cover for players who’s fitness is still to be assessed after a grueling weekend of European Cup action.

England kick off their campaign against Scotland on the 2^nd of February at Twikenham.

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Revised England Six Nations squad

Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Forwards: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Croft (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Matt Kvesic (Worcester), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester)

Two uncapped players selected for England Squad

England have high expectations following their 38 – 21 victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham last November and will be targeting nothing less than a Six Nations victory.

Coach Stuart Lancaster does however have an eye on the future, he has selected two uncapped domestic stars in an attempt to blood them into the England set up. Northampton Saints flanker Callum Clark makes his return to the England squad after serving a 32 week ban for breaking an opponent’s elbow in 2012 and Gloucester’s Billy Twelvetrees enters the quad for the first time after a stand out season at his club.

The squad also includes four capped young guns that will be looking to establish themselves in the senior team this season. Joe Launchbury, Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola and Freddie Burns are part of a group of junior players that Lancaster trusted last season and is keen to develop into the core of the team in time for the 2015 World Cup on home soil.

Lancaster also announced the second string (or development) England Saxons squad for the upcoming year with an eye on integrating as many up and coming players as possible throughout the year.

“The fact that we have spent significant time deliberating over quite a few players shows how tough the competition is to get into this 65 and the strength in depth that is emerging. We have made some changes to both squads and we feel that reflects the players’ form during the first half of the season.” Said Lancaster

“There will undoubtedly be movement between the two squads as we go through the Six Nations and that was evident in the year-end Internationals, with players in form pushing through such as Freddie Burns, Joe Launchbury, Tom Youngs and Mako Vunipola.” He added.

Other changes to the squad see Wasps James Haskell replacing Phil Dowson and David Strettle of Saracens takes over from Charlie Shaple.

England begin their Six Nations campaign at home to Scotland on February 2.

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England squad: Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Tom Johnson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Ben Morgan, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Mako Vunipola, Thomas Waldrom, David Wilson, Tom Wood, Tom Youngs, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Freddie Burns, Danny Care, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Ben Foden, Alex Goode, Jonathan Joseph, David Strettle, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Youngs.

England Saxons squad: Mouritz Botha, Nathan Catt, Louis Deacon, Paul Doran Jones, Phil Dowson, Will Fraser, Joe Gray, Graham Kitchener, Shaun Knight, Matt Kvesic, Matt Mullan, David Paice, Tom Palmer, George Robson, Ed Slater, Henry Thomas, Billy Vunipola,
Nick Abendanon, Anthony Allen, Tom Biggs, Elliot Daly, Kyle Eastmond, George Ford, George Lowe, Jonny May, Ugo Monye, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, Joel Tomkins, Jordan Turner-Hall, Christian Wade, Richard Wigglesworth.