Howley And Dawson Go Head To Head
Matt Dawson will renew his British Lions acquaintance with Rob Howley – he’s returned to the England Squad preparing for their clash with Wales at Twickenham on 23 March.
The Northampton Saints star should go head to head with the man he shared scrum-half duties with on the Summer tour of Australia, at some stage during the match.
Dawson played for England A against France A in round three of the Six Nations A Championship and is promoted to the 27-man squad from which Clive Woodward will name his 22 to face Wales next week.
Woodward brought in NEC Harlequins novice Nick Duncombe to cover for Dawson in the opening three rounds of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship.
Duncombe sat on the bench and picked up caps as a replacement for Kyran Bracken in the wins over Scotland and Ireland.
Iain Balshaw, who was due to play in the IRB World Sevens Series, is also included in the party.
The Bath pair of Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick will batle for the place alongside Ben Kay in the second row vacated by the suspended Martin Johnson, while Leicester back row man Lewis Moody is also included after recovering from injury.
Woodward is due to announce his final team on Tuesday, 19 March.
ENGLAND SQUAD (v Wales)
Backs: Iain Balshaw (Bath), Kyran Bracken (Saracens), Ben Cohen(Northampton Saints), Matt Dawson(Northampton Saints), Nick Duncombe (NEC Harlequins), Will Greenwood (NEC Harlequins), Austin Healey (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Dan Luger (NEC Harlequins), Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks), Mike Tindall (Bath), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons).
Forwards: Neil Back (Leicester Tigers),
Steve Borthwick (Bath), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers), Danny Grewcock (Bath), Richard Hill (Saracens), Ben Kay(Leicester Tigers), Jason Leonard (NEC Harlequins), Lewis Moopdy (Leicester Tigers), Mark Regan (Bath), Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers), Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints), Phil Vickery (Gloucester), Dorian West(Leicester Tigers), Julian White(Bristol Shoguns), Joe Worsley (London Wasps).