Haskell back in England team for Springboks test

James Haskell has been recalled to the England side to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Windsor-born former Maidenhead RFC colt has been on the bench the past two weekend's but finds himself replacing Tom Croft at blindside flanker for the test against visiting the World Champions. Croft drops to the bench.

London Wasps star Haskell is the only change to the starting XV indicating that manager Martin Johnson wants to maintain a degree of continuity in his selection, despite last Saturday's loss to Australia.

Haskell offers a more physical presence than Croft against a very hard-hitting Springboks side and impressed when he came off the bench against the Wallabies and the Pacific Islands a week earlier.

The one other change see's Leicester Tigers' Jordan Crane replacing Bath's Michael Lipman on the bench.

Former Marlow RFC youngster Nick Kennedy has not done enough to earn a recall to the second row, but Ugo Monye – whose family hail from Cippenham – keeps his place on the wing.

England: Delon Armitage (London Irish), Paul Sackey (London Wasps), Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Riki Flutey (London Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (London Wasps), Danny Care (Harlequins), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Phil Vickery (London Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), Tom Palmer (London Wasps), James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Rees (London Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Matt Stevens (Bath Rugby), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers).