England hit by Geoff Parling injury ahead of Australia clash
ENGLAND’S lineout leader Geoff Parling was last night ruled out of Saturday’s Twickenham Test against Australia after suffering a concussion in training.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster will promote Dave Attwood to the match-day squad in place of Lions lock Parling, below, and can now be expected to pair Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury in the starting second row.
Full-back Ben Foden, like Attwood among those sent back to play for their clubs last weekend, was another retained among the 23 who will form the match squad – in Foden’s case at the expense of Henry Trinder.
Lancaster’s decision is likely to mean a first cap at outside-centre for rugby league convert Joel Tomkins, whose brother Sam is playing in the league World Cup on the same day.
Wing Marland Yarde and No?8 Billy Vunipola, capped in Argentina in June when England were without their Lions, will play for the first time when Lancaster has a full choice. “It’s never easy deciding who to select and you want players pushing hard for places across the board,” said Lancaster.
Parling will remain at the England camp, as will Lions prop Alex Corbisiero, who is recovering from a knee injury.