Vunipola in fast lane to England squad as lucky Lancaster names his men for autumn

By CHRIS FOY, RUGBY CORRESPONDENT

Published: 17:30 EST, 24 October 2012 | Updated: 05:14 EST, 25 October 2012

All Test coaches need Lady Luck’s assistance and Stuart Lancaster can consider himself fortunate looking ahead to Thursday’s announcement of a revised England squad.

Of the 32 players named by Lancaster in his elite squad in July, all but five should be available for next month’s QBE internationals at Twickenham — provided there are no injury dramas in Aviva Premiership matches this weekend.

Saracens prop Matt Stevens retired, and injuries have ruled out Ben Foden (full back), Tom Croft (flanker), Rob Webber (hooker) and Alex Corbisiero (prop) from the selection equation — although Corbisiero may be available before the end of November.

Springing a surprise: Mako Vunipola of Saracens is set for a call up

In some parts of the field England are well stocked; in others the cover is thin. For example, Lancaster has options aplenty at scrum-half, but he is not so awash with top-drawer contenders at No 10, where Toby Flood is on course to start.

One of the changes to be announced is that of Saracens rookie prop, Mako Vunipola,  the New Zealand-born loosehead of Tongan descent who made a major impact in England’s Grand Slam-winning Under 20 team.

He is due to be rewarded for his impressive start to the club season and the speed of his progress is highlighted by the fact that he was only drafted into the Saxons ranks last month.

By claiming one of four prop places, he has leapt ahead of the more established Matt Mullan of Worcester. David Wilson, the Bath tighthead, had already been promoted to fill the void left by Stevens.

Crocked: Ben Foden (right) will miss England's internationals through injury

In the absence of Northampton’s Foden, Ugo Monye of Harlequins is preferred over  rookie rivals Christian Wade, Jonny May and Marland Yarde. He will challenge Charlie Sharples for the right to start on the left flank, while Leicester hooker Tom Youngs will join his brother Ben in the squad.

Meanwhile, young Scarlets prop Samson Lee will join the Wales squad at their training camp in Poland next week, as injury cover for Wales prop Adam Jones. The Ospreys tighthead, 31, is a doubt for the autumn opener against Argentina in Cardiff on November 10 after aggravating a knee injury in Sunday’s defeat at Leicester.