Cole to make first start for England

Pa
Wednesday 10 February 2010 13:39 GMT
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Leicester tight-head prop Dan Cole will make his full England debut in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome.

The 22-year-old has been promoted into the starting XV to replace Bath's David Wilson, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury since last weekend's 30-17 victory over Wales.

Cole made his Test debut off the bench at Twickenham after forcing his way into the senior England squad with a series of destructive performances in the Leicester front row.

In the only other change to the England side that took the field against Wales, Riki Flutey has been restored at inside centre after recovering from a dead leg.

The Brive centre had originally been named in the team last week but he was forced to withdraw two days before the game after being injured in training.

England manager Martin Johnson has delayed the announcement of his replacement bench as he waits on a number of injury issues.

England captain Steve Borthwick has missed training for the last two days and has been isolated from the rest of the squad after being laid low with an illness.

Wilson and Lewis Moody were both in non-contact jerseys at training today while Simon Shaw also sat out the session.

Johnson has kept Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw, Northampton lock Courtney Lawes and Worcester prop Matt Mullan with the squad.

Johnson confirmed he will name the bench on Friday afternoon.

Borthwick has recovered from the worst of his bug and although Shaw was ill overnight, Johnson is confident both men will be fit to start in Rome on Sunday.

There are no major concerns over Moody either - indeed Johnson quipped that he was in a non-contact bib for everyone else's safety.

Johnson has no qualms in promoting Cole into the starting XV after watching him thrive at Leicester in the injury-enforced absence of veteran tightheads Julian White and Martin Castrogiovanni.

"Dave Wilson took a bit of a knock last week so he has been limited in training and it is the perfect opportunity to bring Dan Cole in," said Johnson.

"We are very pleased to do that. I thought he was impressive when he played last week and the way he has handled this week. He can do a good job for us.

"We knew there was potential in him and getting the opportunity at Leicester to play games, his development has been rapid over the last few months."

England team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations championship at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Sunday, February 14; kick-off 2.30pm:

D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Sale Sharks), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: TBC.

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