Mallinder backs Lawes to deliver for England
Saints boss Jim Mallinder says Courtney Lawes is 'fit and ready' after being called up to the England bench for the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland.
Lawes joins team-mate Ben Foden as an England replacement, with Saints skipper Dylan Hartley retaining his place in the front-row for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.
The three Saints players will come up against club-mate Euan Murray, who has been selected at tighthead for Scotland by former England boss Andy Robinson.
With Simon Shaw out of the clash with a shoulder injury, many pundits were calling for the inclusion of Lawes in the starting line-up, but England boss Martin Johnson has gone with the more conservative Louis Deacon to partner skipper Steve Borthwick.
Johnson will be looking for an impact from the bench from Lawes and, after starring in Saints' 15-7 win over Sale, Mallinder is sure the 21-year-old from Jimmy's End is up to the task.
Mallinder said: "I am sure Courtney is ready. I am sure he won't let England down if he is given a chance."
Lawes has been back and forth between club and country since being picked for the Six Nations squad and Mallinder felt it was affecting his form.
"Courtney is the type of player who needs to play week-in, week-out," said Mallinder. "He hadn't had enough rugby over the past few weeks, but he has played the last couple for us."
Lawes has started the last three games for Saints after missing the previous three because of England duty and a hamstring problem.
The former Old Scout won his first cap for England as a replacement against Australia in October. He came on in the second row that day at Twickenham and England see him as a future international lock.
But Lawes' last six appearances for Saints have all been at blindside flanker. He hasn't started a game in the second row since Saints' Heineken Cup win in Italy against Treviso on December 12.
Mallinder is confident Lawes has the skills to cope playing in either position for England if needed and he was certainly back to his hard-hitting best in the win at Sale, helping to win a couple of turnovers at the breakdown as well.
Lawes came off in the second half after 59 minutes, but Mallinder revealed there was no injury to worry about.
"He came off against Sale, but that was just us looking after our players," said Mallinder. He is fine and ready to play."
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