Tom Croft: Back in England squad
Leicester flanker Tom Croft has been called into England's Six Nations squad. Croft only returned to domestic action after a serious neck injury on 4 January and his participation in Leicester's victory over Sale at the weekend was the first time he has played back-to-back matches this season. After Saturday's match Tigers coach Richard Cockerill immediately pronounced Croft fit and ready for international duty. And England coach Stuart Lancaster has wasted little time in calling Croft up, at the same time giving the flanker's chances of being named in this summer's Lions squad a huge boost. Lancaster has a selection poser at No 6 where three different players have been used in this year's Six Nations - and he may be hoping the experienced Croft is the answer. Tom Wood started against Scotland, James Haskell against Ireland, and Courtney Lawes in the last match against France. Wood was moved to No 8 following an injury to Ben Morgan, and the Northampton man has been outstanding there so Croft has a chance of featuring in the Italy match. Lancaster told Sky Sports News: "We had Tom in the Six Nations last year and he was one of the stand-out players. "The injury happened after than and he missed the South Africa tour (last summer) and the autumn internationals. He's been out a long time. But he's one of the few British & Irish Lions we've got in our team. "He's a great line-out option, he's a great ball carrier and defender, and he's a lead, most importantly from our point of view. "He's got a lot of things to get up to speed with - line-out systems and structures, the way we attack and defensive systems but he's an intelligent rugby player." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/8540681/Leicester-star-Tom-Croft-called-into-England-s-Six-Nations-squad.
Croft only returned to domestic action after a serious neck injury on 4 January and his participation in Leicester's victory over Sale at the weekend was the first time he has played back-to-back matches this season.
After Saturday's match Tigers coach Richard Cockerill immediately pronounced Croft fit and ready for international duty.
And England coach Stuart Lancaster has wasted little time in calling Croft up, at the same time giving the flanker's chances of being named in this summer's Lions squad a huge boost.
Lancaster has a selection poser at No 6 where three different players have been used in this year's Six Nations - and he may be hoping the experienced Croft is the answer.
Tom Wood started against Scotland, James Haskell against Ireland, and Courtney Lawes in the last match against France.
Wood was moved to No 8 following an injury to Ben Morgan, and the Northampton man has been outstanding there so Croft has a chance of featuring in the Italy match.
Lancaster told Sky Sports News: "We had Tom in the Six Nations last year and he was one of the stand-out players.
"The injury happened after than and he missed the South Africa tour (last summer) and the autumn internationals. He's been out a long time. But he's one of the few British & Irish Lions we've got in our team.
"He's a great line-out option, he's a great ball carrier and defender, and he's a lead, most importantly from our point of view.
"He's got a lot of things to get up to speed with - line-out systems and structures, the way we attack and defensive systems but he's an intelligent rugby player." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/8540681/Leicester-star-Tom-Croft-called-into-England-s-Six-Nations-squad.
