Martin Johnson today named an interesting 45 man squad in preparation for the World Cup in New Zealand later this year. Some young players are deservedly included and there is a clear balance of experience also.
Forwards: Mouritz Botha (Saracens) George Chuter (Leicester) Dan Cole (Leicester) Alex Corbisiero (London Irish) Tom Croft (Leicester) Louis Deacon (Leicester) Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton) Nick Easter (Harlequins) Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks) Dylan Hartley (Northampton) James Haskell (Unattached) Courtney Lawes (Northampton) Lee Mears (Bath) Lewis Moody (Bath) Tom Palmer (Stade Francais) Tim Payne (London Wasps) Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) Simon Shaw (London Wasps) Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks) Matt Stevens (Saracens) Steve Thompson (London Wasps) Thomas Waldrom (Leicester) David Wilson (Bath) Tom Wood (Northampton) Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
This is a strong selection of forwards. There is an excellent blend of experience with the likes of Nick Easter, Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw along with some young talent in Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes. Luke Narrway and Dave Attwood will be disappointed to miss out due to injuries. Matt Stephens has some serious fitness work to do to give him a chance for a starting jersey in New Zealand. There are less flamboyant players such as Worsley and Hendre Fourie who if selected would be there to do the basics well, to tackle and fight at the breakdown.
Likely to miss out: Chris Robshaw does not have the experience necessary to succeed in New Zealand and England have better options than him in the back-row. David Wilson had an average season at Bath and is not a dynamic scrumagger. There are younger, stronger scrummagers with the aggression needed to win in New Zealand at Martin Johnson’s disposal. Thomas Waldrom should not make the team in my opinion, he has been reliable as a club player, but I think England have such lucrative talent in the back row with the likes of Nick Easter, Joe Worseley and Lewis Moody to call on.
Backs: Delon Armitage (London Irish) Chris Ashton (Northampton) Matt Banahan (Bath) Danny Care (Harlequins) Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks) Toby Flood (Leicester) Riki Flutey (London Wasps) Ben Foden (Northampton )Shontayne Hape (Bath) Charlie Hodgson (Saracens) Ugo Monye (Harlequins) Charlie Sharples (Gloucester) Joe Simpson (London Wasps) James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester) David Strettle (Saracens) Mike Tindall (Gloucester) Manu Tuilagi (Leicester) Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens) Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon) Ben Youngs (Leicester)
There are some incredibly talented backs in this group of players. I am impressed with Martin Johnson’s creativity in choosing in form flyers such as Charlie Sharples and David Strettle. Manu Tuilagi as expected is given the call up to the squad. He has served his suspension, but Johnson will keep and eye on his discipline. The experienced players already have seats on the plane as long as they remain injury free. The likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall will be extremely useful senior players to have in the training camp and on the pitch in New Zealand. I am slightly disappointed at Riki Fluetey’s inclusion as I feel he has not hit the same form he had in 2009 with the British Lions Tour. Wasps have had a poor season by their standards and I have not seen any performances that merit the selection. Anthony Allen would have been a better option in my opinion. He was voted players’ player of the year at Leicester and was in terrific form all season. There are some fascinating choices to be made in regards to the wingers to be taken to New Zealand. Chris Ashton has an excellent try scoring record already with England; Mark Cueto is highly experienced, but does not score many tries these days. I would love to see James Simpson-Daniel given a chance, he has been blighted by injury over the years, but week in week out he is one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Aviva Premiership. He can also cover at centre. David Strettle has excelled at Saracens this year and is a great threat with ball in hand with his tremendous foot work and kick chasing. Also, Charlie Sharples has been on great form in the Premiership and with the England Saxons.
Likely to miss out: Unfortunately Martin Johnson may feel Charlie Sharples may not quite be ready for the World Cup in New Zealand, but he is definitely one for the future. Richard Wigglesworth is behind Ben Youngs, Danny Care and Joe Simpson in the pecking order; however he should be considered in the near future. Riki Flutey may not make the final 30, but Johnson may wish to have a different kind of centre at his disposal to the physical presence of Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hape.
My Starting XV for England in New Zealand This Autumn
1. Andrew Sheridan
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Paul Doran-Jones
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Simon Shaw
6. James Haskell
7. Lewis Moody (captain)
8. Nick Easter
9. Ben Youngs
10. Toby Flood
11. James Simpson-Daniel
12. Shontayne Hape
13. Mike Tindall
14. Chris Ashton
15. Ben Foden
No comments:
Post a Comment