Cipriani and Easter in England 25 for Wales
London (AFP) - England exiles Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter were both included in a 25-man squad announced Tuesday by coach Stuart Lancaster for Friday's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.
Talented fly-half Cipriani featured in two of England's three Tests in New Zealand in June, ending a six-year international exile, but the 27-year-old was omitted from the team's November campaign.
However, he has edged his way past Stephen Myler, not in the 25, and is in line to provide cover for first-choice No 10 George Ford.
Meanwhile Harlequins No 8 Easter has not played for England since Lancaster took charge following the side's 2011 World Cup exit, with the 36-year-old reportedly making the infamous comment "that's £35,000 down the toilet" after the quarter-final loss to France.
But with Lancaster's squad beset by a raft of injuries that have seen fly-half Owen Farrell and back-row Ben Morgan ruled out of the entire Six Nations, Cipriani and Easter have a chance to revive their international career in a year when England will stage the World Cup.
Now they can probably both look forward to a bench place at least when Lancaster announces his matchday 23 for the Millennium Stadium match on Wednesday.
"Everyone named is fit and ready to go and we are looking forward to finalising our preparations over the next few days," Lancaster said in a Rugby Football Union statement issued Tuesday.
England had already seen powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi sidelined with a groin problem ahead of the Cardiff clash while fellow midfielders Brad Barritt (knee) and Kyle Eastmond (shoulder) also failed to make it into Lancaster's 25.
But Northampton centre Luther Burrell, who suffered a recent concussion against Racing Metro, has since been passed fit to take his place in the Wales squad.
Up front, flanker Tom Wood (ankle) and lock Geoff Parling (knee) were ruled out through injury.
Their absences were confirmed after England lost second row Joe Launchbury (neck) for the whole Six Nations, with lock Courtney Lawes sidelined for the first few weeks while he recovers from ankle surgery.
Prop David Wilson became the latest addition to England's injured list when he was ruled out of the Wales match on Monday with a neck injury.
However, fellow front-row Dan Cole, one of four British and Irish Lions set to be in the matchday squad, is fit following a foot problem.
England 25-man squad to play Wales:
Backs (11)
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton), Danny Cipriani (Sale), George Ford (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards (14)
Dave Attwood (Bath), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle), Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Croft (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Henry Thomas (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Youngs (Leicester)
