Courtney Lawes to bring something special to Stuart Lancaster's pack as England face Scotland in Six Nations showdown

  • Courtney Lawes returns for his 37th England cap against Scotland
  • The dynamic second row proved fitness in two Northampton matches
  • Lawes reunites with Dave Attwood, meaning George Kruis will miss out
  • Mike Brown is also back for Stuart Lancaster after suffering concussion
  • Geoff Parling comes on to the bench along with flanker Tom Wood

England will unleash their ‘special’ force of nature, Courtney Lawes, against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday to add clout and dynamism up front following the crushing loss to Ireland.

Northampton’s 26-year-old lock returns to the starting XV as one of two changes from the setback in Dublin which dashed hopes of a Grand Slam for yet another year.

The other will see Harlequins full back Mike Brown reinstated when Stuart Lancaster announces his line-up on Wednesday for the latest instalment of an increasingly one-sided Calcutta Cup rivalry.

Courtney Lawes will make a welcome return for England against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday

Courtney Lawes will make a welcome return for England against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday

Lawes will add clout and dynamism up front to Stuart Lancaster's side reeling from their loss to Ireland

Lawes will add clout and dynamism up front to Stuart Lancaster's side reeling from their loss to Ireland

Lawes will win his 37th Test cap against the Scots, having proved his fitness with the Saints after being out for two months with an ankle injury. 

Two comeback club matches have been enough to convince the England management that he is primed to reignite their championship campaign.

Reuniting Lawes with Dave Attwood in the second row means George Kruis of Saracens is out of the match-day 23, for the time being.

Having dipped against Ireland after storming displays in the wins over Wales and Italy, the rookie has made way, with Leicester’s Lion, Geoff Parling, coming on to the bench along with flanker Tom Wood - another back from injury - and prop Kieran Brookes.

Full back Mike Brown will also be back when Lancaster announces his side on Wednesday

Full back Mike Brown will also be back when Lancaster announces his side on Wednesday

Brown takes part in full training at Bagshot on Tuesday as England prepare for the Calcutta Cup

Brown takes part in full training at Bagshot on Tuesday as England prepare for the Calcutta Cup

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree said: ‘Courtney is a special player. He’s been good for us. He’s really maturing as a player and as a person. You can’t hide what he can bring for us physically. I’ve watched his last two games for Northampton and he’s played well. This time last year, on the summer tour and in the autumn series, he played exceptionally well and he’s back to his best.

‘We’ve got a lot of athletes in the second row. I’ve been very pleased with the progress of the guys who have been performing in the absence of Courtney and Geoff over the last few months. But we have a lot of riches in that area now.’

For many years, Lawes has been acclaimed for his destructive impact as a tackler and athletic ball-carrier but Rowntree insisted he is equally adept at doing the unglamorous duties required from a tight forward.

Lawes reunites with Dave Attwood while Geoff Parling (pictured) comes back onto the bench

Lawes reunites with Dave Attwood while Geoff Parling (pictured) comes back onto the bench

Flanker Tom Wood (pictured) also returns from injury, as will prop Kieran Brookes

Flanker Tom Wood (pictured) also returns from injury, as will prop Kieran Brookes

‘He is capable of the “grunt” work,’ he said. ‘That area of his game has significantly improved, his work-rate. That’s what you get with Courtney: high work-rate but also a lot of stand-out moments.’

The reshuffle of the impressive lock stocks extends to a recall for Parling as a replacement after the first half of his season was disrupted by concussion.

He has forged a reputation as a supreme lineout operator but Rowntree also paid tribute to his carrying efforts in recent seasons, and his leadership as an experienced figure who was a mainstay of the Lions’ success in Australia in 2013.

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree describes Lawes as 'a special player' for what he brings physically

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree describes Lawes as 'a special player' for what he brings physically

Rowtree expects a high work-rate along with some stand-out moments from Lawes on Saturday

Rowtree expects a high work-rate along with some stand-out moments from Lawes on Saturday

England’s defeat in Dublin was notable as a rare off-day for captain Chris Robshaw, who had been leading the side with increasing authority of late. Rowntree didn’t duck the fact that the skipper needs to raise his game again.

‘I’ve been happy with Chris this last six months,’ he said. ‘He did well in the autumn, against Leinster too, injured his shoulder then came back to be outstanding against Wales. He played well against Italy but, among a lot of other guys, did not have his best game in Ireland against a very good outfit in terms of breakdown and set-piece.

Chris Robshaw had a rare off day against Ireland but Rowntree expects the England skipper to bounce back

Chris Robshaw had a rare off day against Ireland but Rowntree expects the England skipper to bounce back

‘We have had frank reviews and I’m sure we will have a reaction from Chris this week. This group are very good at putting their hands up. Chris leads that. One of his greatest qualities is his honesty.’

Robshaw acknowledged the collective need to lift standards back up to where they were in Cardiff. He will be hoping Wales scupper Irish Grand Slam hopes before trying to deal with the expectation of a resounding home win against Scotland.

‘There are different pressures,’ he said. ‘We’re favourites going into that game at home.

‘You want to deliver and set the standard of how you want to play. Hopefully we win, but hopefully we do it in the right manner.’

ENGLAND LINE-UP TO FACE SCOTLAND IN THE SIX NATIONS (PROBABLE)

Backs: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester)

Forwards: J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester); D Attwood (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton); J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins, C) 

Subs: T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), K Brookes (Newcastle), G Parling (Leicester), T Wood (Northampton), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), D Cipriani (Sale), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester)

 

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