Churchill Cup
Stevens starts for Saxons
June 3, 2011
England Saxons prop Matt Stevens packs down, England Saxons training session, Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, England, June 1, 2011
Matt Stevens starts for the Saxons © Getty Images
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Matt Stevens will return to England colours for the first time since his drugs ban when the Saxons kick off their Churchill Cup campaign on Saturday.

The Saracens prop, who won the last of his 32 Test caps in November 2008, has been named to start in his favoured tight-head position for England's second string against the United States at Franklin's Gardens. Stevens will be joined in the Saxons line-up by Saracens team-mate Mouritz Botha, a week after they lifted the Aviva Premiership title with victory over Leicester at Twickenham.

With his Saracens and Leicester players now available, Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster has made 11 changes from the team that lost to the Barbarians on Sunday.

Gloucester lock Dave Attwood continues in the second-row and Exeter's Tom Johnson starts again in the back row, although he switches to openside.

Mike Brown retains the fullback jersey and Henry Trinder, who scored England's first try against the Barbarians, continues at outside centre, but elsewhere it is all change. Rory Clegg and Mickey Young form a new half-back partnership with Billy Twelvetrees at inside-centre. Topsy Ojo and Miles Benjamin start on the wings.

Up front, Stevens will pack down with Matt Mullan at loose-head and hooker Joe Gray. Leicester's Jordan Crane captains the team from No.8 with James Gaskell starting at blindside flanker.

England Saxons: M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), H Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), B Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), M Benjamin (Worcester Warriors), R Clegg (Harlequins), M Young (Newcastle Falcons); M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), J Gray (Harlequins), M Stevens (Saracens), M Botha (Saracens), D Attwood (Gloucester Rugby), J Gaskell (Sale Sharks), T Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), J Crane (Leicester Tigers, capt).

Replacements: D Paice (London Irish), K Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), G Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), J Gibson (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Saracens), C Sharples (Gloucester Rugby).

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