LONDON--Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter were both recalled by England when coach Stuart Lancaster announced Wednesday his 34-man training squad for the Six Nations opener away to Wales on February 6.
Talented fly-half Cipriani featured in two of England's three Tests in New Zealand in June, ending a six-year international exile, but was omitted from the November international campaign.
However, the 27-year-old has impressed for club side Sale so far this season amidst speculation he could join French and European champions Toulon if he fails to revive his Test career.
Now Cipriani will look to establish himself in a squad where George Ford and Owen Farrell are the first-choice fly-halves and Stephen Myler is also vying for the No 10 shirt.
"It's a chance for Danny to come in and put a marker down," Lancaster told a Twickenham news conference.
Easter has not played for England since Lancaster took charge after the team's 2011 World Cup exit, with the Harlequins back-row reportedly making the infamous comment "that's £35,000 down the toilet" following the quarter-final loss to France.
However, he has been in fine club form and with specialist No 8 Ben Morgan out with a broken leg, Lancaster has decided to revive the 36-year-old Easter's international career.
"Nick has not been involved before with me," said Lancaster. "Billy Vunipola was outstanding at the weekend but we need some specialist No 8s and Nick, to be fair, has been outstanding and deserves a chance to see if he can replicate that again at international level.
"They are both are in the mix -- and we'll see how they go.
"We base a lot of our decisions on the training. There is no definitive decision on who starts and who goes on the bench yet because we've got that two-week period to prepare for the Wales game."
AFP
