Joe Cokanasiga has been recalled by Eddie Jones to England’s 25-man squad for Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations match with France at Twickenham.
The Bath winger has recovered from a knee injury and replaces Mike Brown in the squad.
Elsewhere, back-rower Brad Shields is fit enough to be retained by in the squad for the second Guinness Six Nations game.
Saracens second row Maro Itoje suffered a medial ligament tear in the 32-20 Round 1 win over Ireland in Dublin and will miss the next two matches, meaning Joe Launchbury or Courtney Lawes are likely to join George Kruis in the second row when Jones names his team on Friday morning.
Prop Ellis Genge and Harry Williams, who came off the bench in Dublin, have not been retained by Jones with Exeter‘s Ben Moon and Leicester Tigers‘ Dan Cole preferred as the front-row cover.
If England stick with the same XV that they went with against Ireland, Itoje’s enforced absence aside, that likely leaves competition between Shields and Nathan Hughes for the last forward spot on the bench, and a similar tussle between Cokanasiga and Chris Ashton for the 23 jersey.
Manu Tuilagi – who made his first start for England since 2014 in Round 1 – impressed in Dublin and is in prime position to hold onto the No 12 shirt.
England’s full 25-man squad retained is as follows:
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Dan Robson (Wasps) *
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
