Wasps lock Joe Launchbury set to jump queue for first England cap

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury is in line to make a surprise Test debut against Fiji after being selected in England’s 23-man matchday squad.

Launchbury only linked up with England yesterday after being called in as injury cover for Tom Palmer but he has been preferred to both Mouritz Botha and George Robson. England head coach Stuart Lancaster will finalise his starting XV on Thursday, with Launchbury likely to be on the bench as back-up to Palmer and lineout general Geoff Parling.

Launchbury is one of three uncapped players in the 23-man squad, although the inclusion of Saracens loosehead prop Mako Vunipola and Leicester hooker Tom Youngs had been well signposted. Vunipola is expected to join Launchbury on the bench while Youngs is due to start in place of the injured Dylan Hartley. Botha and Robson were among ten players released back to their clubs last night, a list that included loose-forwards James Haskell and Ben Morgan.

England squad: Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), T Johnson (Exeters), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Marler (Harlequins), T Palmer (Wasps), D Paice (London Irish), G Parling (Leicesters), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester) Backs: B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester), A Goode (Saracens), U Monye (Harlequins), C Sharples (Gloucester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester).