Gloucester's Tindall starts for England
Gloucester centre Mike Tindall has earned an unlikely to call up to start for England against France in the Six Nations on Saturday, just three games into his comeback from 17 weeks out with a hamstring injury.
The news is a major blow for the Cherry and Whites ahead of their LV= Cup final against Northampton a day later, with both their joint captains now set to miss the game because of international duty.
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Mike Tindall is in the England team to face France
Number eight Gareth Delve is on the Wales bench for their match against Italy.
The likelihood is that Tindall's absence will allow the centre partnership of Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and Tim Molenaar to reform, one of the major reasons behind the turnaround in Gloucester's fortunes since Christmas.
Northampton will be without three key men after winger Chris Ashton was also called up to start, joining full-back Ben Foden and hooker Dylan Hartley the others.
Young lock Courtenay Lawes will be available after he was released yesterday.
Martin Johnson's most high profile decision is the dropping of Jonny Wilkinson, the World Cup-winning fly-half replced by Leicester's Toby Flood.
Tindall's inclusion ahead of Mathew Tait is a direct attempt to negate marauding French centre Mathieu Bastareaud, the player of the competition so far.
French go for the Grand Slam in the Paris match, which will kick off at 7.45pm.
England Team
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Riki Flutey (CA Brive)
11 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins)
1 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain)
6 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers
19 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
21 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
Gloucester pair Alasdair Dickinson and Scott Lawson have been named on the replacements bench for Scotland's Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin.
Scrum-half Rory Lawson has been released from the squad and will be available for Gloucester's LV= Cup final clash with Northampton.
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by Craig, Churchdown
Thursday, March 18 2010, 9:46PM
“I now firmly believe that Tins must have some serious dirt on Johnno and or the RFU hieracrchy as this can be the only reason he keeps geting in the England squad without playing for any amonut of time during the season....so much for focussing on Glaws...didn't last long! In some ways I'm glad those filling hisi berth for most of the season will get to do so in a final and pick up a winners medal hopefully.”
by pippa, in Andy's golf buggy on the M5
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:55PM
“As usual Ex Leicester Player hopes to wreak any chance Gloucester have of winning. Same old Leicester always ........”
by Teddy, Gloucester
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:43PM
“I think Johnson has been found out. Not a clue.”
by THE BEARDED MAN, worcester sunday
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:38PM
“well, what can i say, played 180 mins of rugby in 4 months, now playing for england, mike's a god or englands got no tackling centres, its time johno moved on and let a proper coach take charge of the national team”
by Horace the Labdoor, on the soapbox
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 6:17PM
“We're not taking on France, we are taking on Northampton Saints and that is where Tindall should be.”