The experience of Lions lock Geoff Parling and Nick Easter, who starts on the bench, will be critical to England's Six Nations title hopes. Parling starts instead of Dave Attwood, who misses out altogether in favour of veteran forward Easter.

"It's the experience that Geoff brings - he didn't go on the Lions tour by accident," says Lancaster.

"He has played many big games, his organisation, his presence and speed around the field is excellent. It was a tight call - but the right call.

"The bench will all make an impact and will be critical to our hopes. In the three games Nick has played he has done that. He will make a stronger impact from the bench."

England, who host France on Saturday, are one of FOUR teams who can still win the Six Nations title on the final weekend. And the English lads are feeling exactly how you would think...

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"We are hugely excited about it," exclaims Lancaster. "The players are chomping at the bit to get going."

Are you fed up of coming second? "Yep. Next question." That answers that one...

As soon as one England boss stops talking to the media, another one begins. Luckily you don't need a time travelling machine to whizz from St George's Park to Pennyhill Park for the latest from the England oval-ball camp.

Here is England head coach Stuart Lancaster on this weekend's dramatic Six Nations finale...

Andrew Stokoe: Andy Schleck, 2011 tour, attacking with two mountains to go second being the Galibier). Laid everything on the line

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Dom Smith: Carlisle Utd. Jimmy Glass.

Oomar Jaunmohamud: Di Canio..when a player was injured.had an opportunity to score but decided to grab the ball and ask the ref to stop play..

Keep the coming to #bbcsportsday

Hodgson adds: "I am happy with my life and where we are as a team. The memory of the Wold Cup will always live with us but I hope to some extent we are putting it behind us.

"We'll see about (going to another World Cup). It is a magnificent job being England manager and I'm really pleased to have the chance to do it.

"My employees seem comfortable with me and that's enough for me. At this stage of my career I don't look any further. I don't want to outstay my welcome, that's for sure, so we'll see what happens."

Roughly translated that means let me stay longer doesn't it? Time will tell...

Finally, some interesting stuff from Hodgson when he asked about life after 2016, when his contract as England boss is due to expire.

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Does he want to stay longer, a journalist enquires? "What I really want to do is to make certain is that I do the job I'm currently contracted to do to the best of my ability and hope there are no slip-ups.

"I hope when we go to France - and I believe we will qualify - we will give a good account of ourselves. I don't need to look beyond that at the moment."

On Joe Hart's Champions League masterclass against Barcelona: "Joe was outstanding, almost amazing. The number of times they were one on one, and I'm talking about the likes of Neymar and Messi, and Joe spread hismself and stood up very well.

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"He made it very difficult for them. His one on one with Messi was really impressive, when Messi went around him and he stayed on his feet.

"I'm pleased for him but disappointed for his club and for Joe because he is the type of players who will take no pleasure from his own performance if his team have gone out of the competition.

"We know Joe is an excellent goalkeeper and always have done."

On the elimination of English clubs in the Champions League: "No doubt the Premier League and the top clubs won't want to lose the fourth Champions League place, but it is a fact of life that if you want four places then you have to get the points to keep that status.

"No English team in the last eight is not endemic - that this time we have teams going out is just one of those things.

"Man City came across a top class Barcelona side, Arsenal played well in the second leg but weren't able to turn tie around after a poor performance in the first leg, the Chelsea and PSG games were incredibly tight and no one would have been surprised if Chelsea went through.

"So I think there will be other times when our teams go through and we will say we're lucky.

"The Premier League is a great league and we have great players - that doesn't give you the right to win matches against teams from other countries."

On Daniel Sturridge's form since the Liverpool striker's return from injury: "I think Daniel is getting better and better.

"When you come into the team again after a very long absence it takes a while.

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"But I thought in the last game in which I watched him play, on Monday against Swansea, there were very good signs that his touch was there and his sharpness is coming back.

"He has another game between now and the England matches to further improve his fitness, when Liverpool play Man United."

Roy Hodgson explains why there are only two goalkeepers - Joe Hart and Fraser Forster - in the squad.

"One of the most interesting things, you'll probably think, is the absence of a third goalkeeper," he said.

"That's because we regard Jack Butland as the keeper in that position but our under 21s have a game on Friday so we would prefer him to stay and play in that game.

"But he will be our third goalkeeper and will come with us if anything happens to the other two keeper in training or during the first game."

On the prospect of Harry Kane starting in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania: "I'd be disappointed if there was anyone on this list who I didn't have the confidence or courage to ask to play in that game.

"When you're there you're good enough but there is competition for places. The first thing is to break into squad and then stay there.

"We've playing well and it is not as easy as newcomer saying 'I'm here step aside'. The others won't want to step aside."

On Harry Kane's selection: "I think the whole country is excited about Harry. His rise has been fantastic this season. It would have been a surprise if he wasn't selected. We hope he can establish himself."

Forme England and Spurs striker Gary Lineker

Congratulations to Harry Kane on his first England call up. The first of many.

The England squad in full for you.

Goalkeepers

Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Man City)

Defenders

Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Man United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Man United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

Midfielders

Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Man United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Man City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards

Harry Kane (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Man United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

England last played in November, beating Scotland 3-1 in a friendly.

Harry Kane has been named in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the first time.

The Tottenham striker is in a 24-man squad to face Lithuania and Italy later in the month.

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Kane's Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker makes a return to the squad having made his 10th and most recent appearance in the November 2013 defeat to Germany.

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph is also back in the set-up after missing November's games with injury, while Hodgson opts for two keepers after Ben Foster was ruled out.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Rob Harley, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Tim Visser.

Scotland make two changes for their final Six Nations match this weekend - where they could end Ireland's title hopes at Murrayfield.

Blindside flanker Adam Ashe and prop Ryan Grant are promoted from the bench, with Robert Harley and Alasdair Dickinson instead starting as replacements.

Scotland must win - and hope Italy are battered by Wales - to avoid the Wooden Spoon.

Some heroic nominations from the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Mark Utv-Phillips: Bert Trautmann, 1956 FA Cup final. Keeper who played virtually whole goal game with broken neck before subs allowed. These over pampered, under worked, overrated, overpaid "heroes" of today, take note.

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Paul Blowers: To win one Grand National is amazing, Red Rum won three, if that's not among the most heroic feats in sport, I don't know what is.

More to #bbcsportsday

Bristol City's Joe Bryan has been named as February's Football League Young Player of the Month.

The 21-year-old has been a key part in City's rise to the top of League One this season, and on Sunday he will appear for his hometown club in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley.

BBC Sport's Caroline Chapman has been to meet Bryan, who is the son of a heart surgeon and "one of a kind", according to manager Steve Cotterill.