Easter to captain England against Samoa

NICK EASTER will captain England in Saturday’s Investec Test against Samoa after manager Martin Johnson made four changes to the team that beat Australia.

Leeds open side flanker Hendre Fourie has been handed his first Test start in place of captain Lewis Moody, who has been given a week’s rest. Matt Banahan, who won his previous five caps on the wing, has been preferred to Delon Armitage as Mike Tindall’s outside centre replacement.

Blindside flanker James Haskell and tight-head prop David Wilson will both start for England’s first meeting with Samoa since the 2007 Rugby World Cup.