The Borthwick verdict on naming Courtney Lawes as an England sub

England boss Steve Borthwick has shared his thoughts on his decision to recall the fit-again Courtney Lawes to the match day squad for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations encounter away to Wales. The new head coach resisted the temptation to throw the birthday-celebrating 34-year-old straight back into the fray as a starter after he overcame his latest injury issue.

Having skippered England to their Test series win in Australia last July, Lawes has endured a tortuous time since then as concussion, neck, glute and calf injuries restricted him to just four appearances this season with Northampton and none for his country.

His latest setback materialised in the January 21 Heineken Champions Cup match versus La Rochelle, but he has now shrugged off that situation to pitch up fit and secure England bench selection versus Wales at the Principality.

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It’s a return to fitness that has pleased England coach Borthwick. “I’m delighted to welcome Courtney Lawes back from injury,” he said. “He has worked incredibly hard to get himself fit so soon and has added to the competitiveness and intensity of training.

“You want to have the best players possible available. Courtney has worked really hard to come back from injury sooner than many people forecast, but Courtney has been so incredibly diligent with it and it adds to the competitive nature of the squad. We want a competitive squad that has depth and in certain positions, we are starting to build that – and Courtney certainly adds to that.”

Lawes is named as the England No19, displacing Nick Isiekwe from the replacements bench he had been included on for the opening rounds versus Scotland and Italy. It is one of two changes in the reserves, as Ben Curry is also included at the expense of Ben Earl who had cameo appearances in two February matches at Twickenham.

There is just one change to the England starting lineup with Anthony Watson chosen on the left wing instead of the injured Ollie Hassell-Collins. “I’ve picked a team that is the right team for the game we are playing, against the opponent at this time and the players that are available, and that is the process I go through for every Test match,” explained Borthwick.

“I’m not looking too far ahead, I’m not looking back. I am looking at what we need this week, and the players have trained really hard trying to put some more building blocks in place. We are trying to strengthen the foundations of what we are trying to create.

“We know we have got a lot of work to do, a lot of catching up to the other teams, but I can’t ask any more of the players in terms of their attitude and desire to want to get better.”