England top Six Nations shortlist

Flood and Ashton have given match-winning performances for England

England have four players on the 12-man shortlist for the Six Nations player of the tournament.

Wing Chris Ashton, fly-half Toby Flood, flanker James Haskell and lock Tom Palmer have all been included.

In a change to the format, every player named as a man-of-the-match in the first four rounds of the championship has been nominated.

Scotland are the only team who not represented as they have yet to win a match in the 2011 campaign.

The England quartet are joined by two players each from France, Ireland, Italy and Wales.

Wales flanker Sam Warburton and fly-half James Hook are included, as are the Ireland duo of fly-half Ronan O’Gara and flanker Sean O’Brien.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir and full-back Maxime Medard, along with Italy scrum-half Fabio Semenzato and full-back Andrea Masi complete the list.

The winner will be chosen by supporters, who can cast their votes at www.rbs6nations.com until midnight on 20 March.

In the final round of matches on Saturday, Scotland meet Italy in Edinburgh, Ireland face England in Dublin and France play Wales in Paris.

England will complete the Grand Slam if they win in Dublin, while Scotland must beat Italy at Murrayfield if they are to have any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.