LUKE Narraway has admitted his shock at receiving the call-up to play for England on Saturday.

The former King's School Worcester pupil, who was once at Sixways but now plays for Gloucester, will line up at number eight against Wales at Twickenham in the Six Nations.

Narraway, sporting nine stitches above his eyebrow after running into a flying elbow against Wasps last Saturday, confessed: "It was a total shock.

"I saw my name on the team-sheet when it went up yesterday morning and I had to pinch myself in the team meeting. I really wasn't expecting it. But I realise I have to do a job on Saturday."

Narraway is determined to fill the boots so recently vacated by rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio.

England boss Brian Ashton was impressed by Narraway when he was made man-of-the-match for Gloucester against the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup in November.

Considering Wales will field 13 Ospreys in their starting line-up on Saturday, that performance could not have been more influential. Ashton said: "I am more than happy to put him in there.

"He's a good football player and the Gloucester guys tell me he's tough."

The selection brings together an intriguing England back row of Narraway, 24, James Haskell, 22, and Lewis Moody, 29.

Times have changed since the days when Richard Hill, Neil Back and Dallaglio formed the most experienced back-row unit in world rugby.

Narraway said: "I don't talk as much as Haskell but we have a great balance in that back row. We all offer something different and we will need to because Wales have a great back row.

"I'd describe myself as a looser. I try to get around the field a bit. I like to carry the ball, try for my work-rate to be up there and make the tackles and the carries."

The work-ethic doubtless comes from his dad Ian, a St John's butcher who was once a handy back row himself for Worcester and who Narraway describes as "probably more excited than me".

Narraway joins two other Gloucester players in Ashton's starting line-up, the others being full-back Iain Balshaw and centre Mike Tindall.

But it is the Gloucester player on the bench, Lesley Vainikolo, who coaxes the biggest chuckle out of Narraway.

Narraway said: "I'm very intrigued. Les is a larger-than-life character.

"Jason Robinson has been quoted as saying it won't be long before Twickenham has got big hairy wigs on in support of him and that is just how the guy is."