Rugby | 6N : England picks new centers, recalls prop Cole for Wales

England’s Jonny Wilkinson takes a penalty shot at goal during their Rugby World Cup game against Scotland in Auckland, New Zealand

England selected another new center partnership, recalled prop Dan Cole, and put Nick Easter and Danny Cipriani on the bench in an injury-hit lineup for the Six Nations (6N) opener against Wales at the Millennium Stadium  tomorrow.
With Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond injured, Jonathan Joseph and Luther Burrell will be the latest midfield combination in England’s problem area in recent years.
The experienced Cole has recovered from a foot problem, and replaces injured David Wilson for his first test appearance for almost year.
Easter, who hasn’t played for England since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, will provide cover in the reserves for No. 8 Billy Vunipola and the locks. Cipriani is backup for flyhalf George Ford, and is set for his first Six Nations appearance in six years.
Such is England’s injury crisis that there are only nine survivors from the team that started the victory over Australia in their last November test. Locks Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury, flyhalf Owen Farrell, No. 8 Ben Morgan, and flanker Tom Wood are also unavailable because of injuries.
Tuilagi remains a big loss for England coach Stuart Lancaster, as the Joseph-Burrell partnership has just 13 caps between them.
“JJ has been one of the form centers in the country,” Lancaster said on Wednesday. “He and Luther have trained well together and this is a big opportunity for both of them.”
Cipriani is another player in good form for his club, Sale Sharks, and is back in England after being dropped for the autumn tests. His recall for last June’s tour of New Zealand ended a six-year spell in the international wilderness.
Cipriani was preferred to the more conservative Stephen Myler in the reserves.
England lost 30-3 in its last trip to Cardiff, in the 2013 6N title decider.
Today, Wales will be at full strength after recalling hooker Richard Hibbard and winger George North to the starting team.
The British and Irish Lions players are the only changes to the side that started the 12-6 win over South Africa in November, which ended Wales’ 22-match losing run against the southern hemisphere’s big three.
North, who replaces Liam Williams, is one of the stars of Welsh rugby, but has been warned by Gatland that he needs a big game at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium to keep his place in the side.
“We don’t think he has played that well in the Welsh jersey in the last few games,” Gatland said. “So there is a lot of pressure and expectation on him to perform.
“But one of the things he has done for Wales is that he has scored tries and he continues to do that for his club as well. He does have that X-factor. We are looking for a big performance from him.”
Hibbard comes in for Scott Baldwin in a team selected two days ahead of schedule by Gatland, who had an injury-free squad to choose from.
“It wasn’t the hardest team in the world to pick,” Gatland said. “There are no injuries and everyone has trained this morning, which is good.
“We decided to name the team early to give the players the best possible chance of preparation.”
Sam Warburton is captain for his 50th international appearance. MDT/AP

6N | South African-born Kockott to start for first time for France

South African-born scrumhalf Rory Kockott will start for the first time for France, against Scotland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.
In the absence of Sebastien Tillous-Borde, who has a knee injury, Kockott was given the starting nod over Morgan Parra by France coach Philippe Saint-Andre yesterday.
Since taking over from Marc Lievremont after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Saint-Andre has tinkered with his halfback pairings. He looked to have found the right formula last autumn with Tillous-Borde and Camille Lopez, but will have to try his 14th combination against the Scots at Stade de France. Lopez remains.
Kockott has already given serious guarantees though, appearing during the November tests as an impact player. He proved decisive in a 29-26 win over Australia, hitting a key 45-meter penalty eight minutes from time.
Bayonne fullback Scott Spedding was picked in place of Brice Dulin, who has not yet fully recovered from a sore right arm, and powerful center Mathieu Bastareaud comes in for the injured Alexandre Dumoulin to form an impressive partnership with Wesley Fofana.
Winger Teddy Thomas, who made a splashy debut with four tries in his first two matches against Fiji and Australia in November then was dropped for missing training, has been recalled, while Toulouse’s Yoann Huget will start on the right flank.
Yoann Maestri and Pascal Pape form the second row, while tighthead prop Rabah Slimani was preferred to Nicolas Mas after impressing at Stade Francais. MDT/AP

LINEUPS:

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Samson Lee, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins. Reserves: Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams.

ENGLAND:  Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw (captain), James Haskell, George Kruis, Dave Attwood, Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler. Reserves: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Nick Easter, Tom Croft, Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees.