Fourie elevated into Calcutta Cup reckoning

Having helped Leeds climb off the bottom of the Guinness Premiership with a trademark destructive performance against Saracens on Sunday, the 30-year-old has joined up with Martin Johnson's squad and is available for selection for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The South Africa-born flanker's ascension from the England Saxons squad, for whom he made his debut last month, is yet more evidence that Leeds as a club are back on the rugby union map following the superb form over the last month that has seen them blow the Premiership relegation issue wide open.

In what was an evening of good news for Yorkshire rugby union, Otley-born centre Mike Tindall was recalled by Johnson after missing the last four months with a hamstring injury, and former Leeds lock Tom Palmer was also drafted into the squad.

But it is the call-up of Fourie – who takes the place of Wasps

No 8 Dan Ward-Smith, who damaged knee ligaments at the weekend – which bucks the trend of recent times when Leeds have produced players of the quality of Palmer and Danny Care, who only gained international honours after leaving the club.

Signed from Rotherham Titans in 2007 after two seasons at Clifton Lane, Fourie was Leeds's player of the year during their promotion run last season and has built on that form this campaign.

He brings mobility and robustness to the No 7 shirt and was the quickest of all his team-mates at Headingley to acclimatise to the physical intensity of the Premiership.

Fourie's form has helped lift Leeds off the bottom, and it was his try against Wasps nine days ago that helped the Yorkshire club mark their 500th game with a notable scalp.

Johnson's scouts were placed on high alert in the autumn when he turned his back on his South African roots and declared himself available for England after five years with Rotherham and Leeds.

He signed a two-year deal to stay at Headingley only last week and impressed former Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster on his Saxons debut in Italy last month.

Leeds head coach Neil Back – one of the finest players to have worn the No 7 shirt for England – has been banging the drum for Fourie's promotion to the Elite Player Squad all season and last night saluted his fellow back row forward.

"I'm delighted for Hendre to get the chance to train with the full squad," said World Cup winner Back. "He does a lot of things that are essential in the Test arena.

"I know that the England management have been keepng a close eye on him and I am sure he will impress them this week."

Whether he gets an immediate call into England's 22-man squad to face the Scots on Saturday is down to Johnson, who names his team this lunchtime.

But with Leeds not in action again until the trip to Gloucester on March 27, Fourie has two weeks in which to force his way into the England team with the trip to Scotland swiftly followed by a potential Six Nations decider against France in Paris on March 20.

Standing in his way is the back row axis of Nick Easter, James Haskell and Lewis Moody which is highly thought of by the manager.

The major headache for Johnson, though, is in the second row following the withdrawal yesterday of Simon Shaw. The 36-year-old injured his shoulder joint in the defeat to Ireland 10 days ago and has not recovered, hence the call-up of Palmer, who left Leeds to join Wasps and is now employed by Stade Francais. Courtney Lawes is another option at lock.

As well as Fourie, Palmer and Tindall, Johnson has added Shane Geraghty and Ollie Morgan to his training squad.

Versatile Northampton back Geraghty provides cover for Toby Flood who has been on the bench during the Six Nations but suffered a head injury on Leicester duty at the weekend.

Gloucester's Morgan comes in as back-up for Delon Armitage who injured his ribs against Ireland. Ben Foden is the next in line for the No 15 shirt if Armitage fails to recover.

Tindall scored his first try since pulling a hamstring at Leeds on October 4 in Gloucester's defeat at Wasps on Sunday.

The 2003 World Cup winner won the last of his 60 caps against Scotland last Spring.

Tindall comes in for Leicester's Dan Hipkiss and said at the weekend of his potential recall: "It would be very nice but I would be surprised."