England v Samoa, Twickenham, November 20
England tweak line-up for Samoa clash
ESPNscrum Staff
November 18, 2010
England No.8 Nick Easter powers through a tackle, England v Australia, Twickenham, London, England, November 13, 2010
No.8 Nick Easter will captain England for the first time against Samoa at Twickenham © Getty Images
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Harlequins No.8 Nick Easter will captain England for the first time when they take on Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday.

Easter's promotion comes due to the decision to rest regular skipper Lewis Moody in the wake of the recent victory over Australia and with the challenge of South Africa looming later in the month. Moody is replaced by Leeds openside Hendre Fourie in one of four changes to the side that accounted for the Wallabies.

Bath wing Matt Banahan starts in the No.13 jersey after several impressive runs in midfield for his club and will partner team-mate Shontayne Hape. Fourie will pack down alongside another new face in Stade Francais flanker James Haskell, who slots in ahead of Leicester's Tom Croft. Croft drops to the bench along with tight-head Dan Cole, who is replaced in the front-row by Bath's David Wilson.

Courtney Lawes and Tom Palmer continue their blossoming second-row partnership while Gloucester's Dave Attwood is poised to win his second cap after being recalled among the replacements.

Samoa have opted against making any changes to the XV that were defeated 20-10 by Ireland in Dublin last time out. As a result coach Fuimaono Tafua has named seven English-based players in his starting XV, in Paul Williams (Sale Sharks), David Lemi, Sakaria Taulafo (London Wasps), Seilala Mapusua, George Stowers (London Irish), Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) and Filipo Levi (Newcastle Falcons), with Exeter Chiefs scrum half Junior Poluleuligaga on the bench.

Hooker Mahonri Schwalger retains captaincy of the tourists as forwards Simon Lemalu (Counties Manakau) and Steve Fualau (Canterbury) drop out of the match day squad, replaced by Ti'i Paulo (Clermont Auvergne) and Cencus Johnston (Toulouse).

England: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Stade Francais), H Fourie (Leeds), N Easter (Harlequins, capt).

Replacements: S Thompson (Leeds), D Cole (Leicester), D Attwood (Gloucester), T Croft (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), D Armitage (London Irish)

Samoa: P Williams (Sale Sharks); D Lemi (London Wasps), G Pisi (Taranaki), S Mapusua (London Irish), A Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers); T Lavea (Clermont Auvergne), K Fotuali'i (Hawke's Bay); S Taulafo (London Wasps), M Schwalger (Taranaki, capt), A Perenise (Hawke's Bay), F Levi (Newcastle Falcons), K Thompson (Southland), O Treviranus (Malie Sharks), M Salave'a (Narbonne), G Stowers (London Irish)

Replacements: T Paulo (Clermont Auvergne), C Johnston (Toulouse), I Tekori (Castres), A Aiono (Marist), J Poluleuligaga (Exeter Chiefs), J Helleur (Auckland), G Williams (Clermont Auvergne)

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Alan Lewis (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television Match Official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

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