Ashton returns to England fold

Chris Ashton has been named in England coach Stuart Lancaster's 23-man training squad ahead of Saturday's Test against Australia at Twickenham.

The Saracens wing, who missed the 54-12 victory over Fiji on Saturday after collecting three yellow cards in the Premiership, replaces Harlequins wing Ugo Monye, who misses out despite registering his second Test try against the Pacific Islanders.

Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples, who scored his first two tries in the victory last weekend, is retained in the squad on the back of that performance.

Lancaster said: “We had to make some tough decisions within the 23 and we are in a good position to be able to select from a virtually fully fit squad.

“Training has been very focused during the last two days with all the players training well and pushing hard.

“It is tough on Ugo, who misses out this time, but Chris [Ashton] has been excellent in training and Charlie is rewarded for his performance at the weekend.”

Meanwhile, 13 players are released back to their clubs, including London Irish pair Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph, who Lancaster says will benefit from game time.

“Alex Corbisiero has played once in five months so it is important that he goes back and has more game time for London Irish

“Jonathan Joseph has come through training but Brad and Manu did well in the centres and, similar to Alex, it would be good for him to get some game time.”  

England squad: Dan Cole, Tom Johnson, Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, David Paice, Chris Robshaw, Mako Vunipola, Thomas Waldrom, David Wilson, Tom Wood, Tom Youngs, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Alex Goode, Ugo Monye, Charlie Sharples, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.

Released: Anthony Allen, Mouritz Botha, Freddie Burns, Alex Corbisiero, Lee Dickson, Phil Dowson, James Haskell, Jonathan Joseph, Courtney Lawes, Ugo Monye, Ben Morgan, George Robson, Billy Twelvetrees.