Key decisions for Lancaster

Published: Thursday, 14. March, 2013 in category England
Stuart Lancaster: Names his team on Thursday

Head coach Stuart Lancaster will on Thursday name the England team that will face Wales in the Grand Slam and Six Nations title decider.

Lancaster has had some key selection decisions to make since England gave themselves the opportunity of a first championship clean sweep in a decade with victory over Italy at Twickenham last weekend.

Arguably the toughest call is in the back row, where the dynamic Leicester blindside flanker Tom Croft is pushing for a start ahead of James Haskell despite having made only six appearances since returning to action from a broken neck.

Lancaster is expected to change his half-back pairing for the Millennium Stadium showdown, with Owen Farrell fit for selection at fly-half after shaking a thigh injury and Ben Youngs set to replace Danny Care at scrum-half.

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury will be given every chance to prove his fitness after damaging his elbow in the 18-11 victory over Italy.

Courtney Lawes is expected to start in the second row alongside Geoff Parling if Launchbury is sidelined, with Mouritz Botha the likely bench cover.

Elsewhere, Lancaster must decide between Mako Vunipola, who made his first Test start against Italy, and Joe Marler at loosehead prop.

This will be the biggest team selection of Lancaster's tenure as England chase their first Grand Slam since 2003.

Wales can retain their Six Nations title if they beat England by at least seven points at the Millennium Stadium.