James Haskell and Danny Care are back on Test stage

Stuart Lancaster gives duo their first caps of the year and also makes significant changes to pack for final clash with Springboks
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Andy Hodgson21 June 2012

Danny Care and James Haskell will make their international returns in England’s Third Test against South Africa on Saturday.

The pair are among six changes made by Stuart Lancaster for the clash in Port Elizabeth, where England are looking for a consolation win after losing the first two Tests. Prop Alex Corbisiero and lock Tom Palmer also return to the side while No8 Thomas Waldrom and full-back Alex Goode come in for their first starts.

Care has not played for England since injuring his toe in the World Cup warm-up against Wales last August and he was then dropped from Lancaster’s Six Nations squad after a series of off-field drink-related incidents.

However, he was recalled for this tour and will replace the injured Ben Youngs at No9, having impressed in the midweek win over Southern Barbarians last week. Lee Dickson was also in contention but the Northampton man is on the bench.

Haskell has not played in a Test since the World Cup defeat to France last year after opting to play club rugby in Japan and New Zealand.

The former London Wasps flanker wins his first cap under Lancaster in place of skipper Chris Robshaw, who has a broken thumb.

Lancaster said: “Danny Care has bided his time in a very competitive position, knuckled down and deserves his chance, as has James Haskell, who has played this season for the Highlanders at No7.”

Haskell’s introduction at openside is one of four changes in the pack with Palmer coming in for Saracens’ Mouritz Botha at lock, Waldrom replacing Ben Morgan at the back of the scrum and Corbisiero taking over from Joe Marler at loosehead.

Corbisiero sat out the end of the domestic season with London Irish due to a biceps injury and then jarred his knee in training soon after arriving in South Africa.

Although he missed the First Test, he came on as a replacement for Marler during the 36-27 defeat to the Springboks last week and has now been preferred to the Harlequins prop.

Lancaster said: “I am really pleased for Alex. He has worked hard in training and has been pushing Mike Brown and Ben Foden close so we are looking forward to him bringing his footballing skills to this Test.

“We felt that the pack got some momentum in the second half last week so we have gone for Alex and Tom but I am sure Joe Marler and Mo Botha can make an impact from the bench.”

Goode gets his first start after making his Test debut in the dying minutes of last week’s match. The Saracens man’s promotion sees Ben Foden switch to the wing from full-back with David Strettle dropping out.

Centre Brad Barritt, who needed stitches in a cut eyeball after the First Test, returns on the bench.

England: A Goode, C Ashton, J Joseph), M Tuilagi, B Foden, T Flood, D Care; A Corbisiero, D Hartley (capt), D Cole, T Palmer, G Parling, T Johnson, J Haskell, T Waldrom. Reps: L Mears, J Marler, M Botha, P Dowson, L Dickson, O Farrell, B Barritt.

IRELAND'S Keith Earls has recovered from a chest injury to face New Zealand in Saturday’s Third Test in Hamilton.

Earls comes in on the wing to replace Andrew Trimble while No8 Peter O’Mahony and inside centre Paddy Wallace are also added to the side.

Ireland: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, K Earls, J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Tuohy, D Ryan, K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, P O’Mahony. Reps: D Fitzpatrick, S Cronin, D O’Callaghan, C Henry, E Reddan, R O’Gara, A Trimble.

WALES have named an unchanged XV for their Third Test against Australia in Sydney after being denied victory last week by a late penalty.

Coach Rob Howley said: “The players did well but that will be of scant consolation if we don’t win on Saturday.”

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, J Davies, A Beck, G North, R Priestland, M Phillips; G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, A-W Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton (capt), R Jones. Reps: K Owens, P James, L Charteris, J Tipuric, R Webb, J Hook, S Williams.

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