England have released Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye and Courtney Lawes from the squad for Saturday’s final RBS Six Nations game against France in Paris.

The absence of the out-of-form Armitage looks set to give Ben Foden his first start at full-back, while Monye’s exit could see a reshuffle in the backs.

Mike Tindall could come into the starting XV at centre, with winger Chris Ashton tipped to make his debut.

Captain Steve Borthwick will have his knee injury assessed on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old left England’s base at Pennyhill Park after a light training session on Tuesday to seek specialist treatment on the problem.

England manager Martin Johnson, who will name his side at 1300 GMT on Wednesday, said: “Steve has gone for treatment for a long-term wear-and-tear issue.

“Hopefully it is just precautionary and he will be fine.”

Armitage and Monye have started all of England’s games so far in the Six Nations, while Lawes came off the bench against Scotland to win his second cap.

London Irish full-back Armitage has struggled for form since returning from injury, while Monye – who was taken off at Murrayfield on a stretcher after a nasty clash of heads – has also not been at his best during a campaign in which England’s backline has struggled for fluency.

Lawes, meanwhile, is seen as one of the most dynamic and promising young forwards in the English game, but Johnson looks set to prefer the vastly more experienced Simon Shaw at the Stade de France.

The trio were among 11 players released from the squad on Tuesday, with Steffon Armitage, Jordan Crane, Shontayne Hape, Charlie Hodgson, Paul Hodgson, Lee Mears, Matthew Mullan and Dan Ward-Smith the others to be deemed surplus to requirements.

More to follow.

BBC

The Pakistan Cricket Board banned Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan indefinitely after the tour to Australia after they had been involved in “infighting … brought down the whole team”.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal also face fines or bans.

Khan says the players need to be disciplined and that they should still be motivated to play for their country but insists the foundation of the team’s problems lie in the way Pakistan cricket is run.

“I was a very strict disciplinarian,” he said. “I did not tolerate indiscipline but I also know the problems I used to face with the cricket board which was run on an ad hoc basis.

“Without discipline you cannot have teamwork. (But) you cannot have players who are not trying their best simply because they do not like the captain or something.

“You go out to represent your country and you have to give your best shot.

“I do believe that players should be disciplined but the real problem still lies in making the cricket board into an institution.”
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan says the country’s cricket structure needs to be changed to help revive the fortunes of the national team.

Pakistan’s cricket team is in disarray after a host of players were recently sanctioned after they lost all nine matches of a tour to Australia.

“Pakistan cricket has to sort itself out,” ex-all rounder Khan told BBC Asian Network.

“The team is a symptom of Pakistan cricket not being an institution.”

Khan added: “The president of Pakistan should not appoint a cricket board chairman, that’s where the problems begin.

“The chairman should be elected through regional organisations and, because that doesn’t happen, the team basically reflects the chaos which lies in the cricket board.”

BBC