Flood tumbles out of contention

England have axed eight players - including Leicester star Toby Flood - from their Six Nations squad ahead of Sunday's Six Nations clash against France.

Flood, Lee Mears, Thomas Waldrom, Paul Doran Jones, Calum Clark, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Sharples and Jordan Turner-Hall have all been sent back to their clubs this week.

However, Flood's axing is the biggest shock after it was assumed that the talented flyhalf was the natural heir to Jonny Wilkinson's No.10 jersey after the World Cup, while others believe it should have been in Flood's possession for some time already.

However, injury and the rise of Owen Farrell have seen the Leicester Tigers pivot fall down in the pecking order and he now finds himself behind charge-down king Charlie Hodgson.

Another Leicester player, Ben Youngs, has also fallen from grace to some extent and is no longer England's first choice scrumhalf - despite injuries and disciplinary problems troubling the likes of Richard Wigglesworth, Joe Simpson and Danny Care, although he does keep his place in the squad.

Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes has also been omitted due to a shin injury.

England squad:

Forwards: Mouritz Botha, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber.

Backs: Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Karl Dickson, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Ben Foden, Charlie Hodgson, David Strettle, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.