England have brought outcasts Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter back into the fold by naming the pair on the bench for Friday's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Cipriani, who has not featured for his country since 2008, has been handed a place in the team by head coach Stuart Lancaster due to his impressive form for Sale Sharks.

Easter will also take his place on the bench as he returns to the squad for the first time since England were kicked out of the World Cup in Auckland back in 2008.

With regards to the starting team, Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph will form a new-look midfield at the Millennium Stadium, while Dan Cole has been given the nod at tighthead prop.

George Kruis will make his first international start in Cardiff.

England 23-man squad to face Wales:

Mike Brown (Harlequins, 33 caps), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 4 caps), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 6 caps), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 7 caps), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 11 caps), George Ford (Bath Rugby, 6 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 42 caps) , Joe Marler (Harlequins, 26 caps), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 61 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps), David Attwood (Bath Rugby, 16 caps), George Kruis (Saracens, 4 caps), James Haskell (Wasps, 53 caps), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 32 caps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 12 caps)

Replacements:

Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 15 caps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps), Nick Easter (Harlequins, 47 caps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 16 caps), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 9 caps), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)