England prop Alex Corbisiero is set to return to the side for Saturday’s Test against Argentina after Mako Vunipola was ruled out through injury.
The Northampton loose-head, a Test Lion in Australia, missed
Saturday’s win over the Wallabies
with a knee problem.
Vunipola is unavailable after picking up a knee ligament strain, but lock Geoff Parling returns to the squad after recovering from concussion.
Rob Webber is on standby with Tom Youngs’ wife expecting a first child.
The Bath hooker would come into the match-day 23 should Youngs – who is battling with Dylan Hartley for the starting role – be forced to leave the squad.
Leicester lock Parling – another who started the Lions’ series-winning Test against Australia – replaces Dave Attwood, but may have to settle for a place on the bench with Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury both making a good impression last Saturday.
Wasps wing Christian Wade,
scorer of two superb individual tries against Gloucester
at the weekend, Northampton centre Luther Burrell and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care also remain with the squad, in addition to those on duty against Australia.
“We have thoroughly reviewed the Australia game and we are determined to build on the momentum that victory has given us,” said England head coach Stuart Lancaster, who has retained an expanded 27-man party ahead of confirming his side on Thursday.
“Training has been very intense and there is a massive competition because everyone is desperate to be in the team.
“We have named an extended squad as we need a further 24 hours to assess one or two minor niggles.”
England squad:
Forwards:
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), David Wilson (Bath Rugby); Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers); Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints).
Backs:
Chris Ashton (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Marland Yarde (London Irish); Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Joel Tomkins (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby); Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers); Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
Players released to clubs:
Dave Attwood (Bath), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Henry Trinder (Gloucester), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Anthony Watson (Bath).
England v Argentina: Alex Corbisiero returns for Vunipola
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