England brings in both new and old faces.
Yesterday, England coach Martin Johnson announced his Autumn team to face Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. Within his squad he included a trio of debutants, in the form of Bath prop David Barnes, Leicester’s Richard Blaze and Northampton’s Courtney Lawes.
As well as the new, Johnson welcomes back many old and experienced players like Lewis Moody, Steve Thompson, Andy Goode, Ben Kay and the illustrious Fly Half Jonny Wilkinson.
England has been crippled with injuries in the past few weeks and it seems mad to say, but there can be positives from this. With the first choice front row sidelined, this can develop a new front row. Dylan Hartley has been playing fantastically well for Northampton this season and has world cup winner Steve Thompson to learn from. Duncan Bell and Tim Payne have been called up and can receive valuable experience filling the shoes of Phil Vikery and Andrew Sheridan.
Contrary to Johnson’s statement about players leaving to play in France damaging their chances of international selection, Steve Thompson, James Haskell, Andy Goode and Jonny Wilkinson have all been included. These will prove to add valuable experience to the team, not to mention a confidence boost for everyone at the site of Jonny with the number ten on his back.
However, do you think it is right for exiled players to return to international duty and be included in the squad? Is it unfair on those who have stayed in the English Premiership for the whole of their career and not received the nod? With England’s injury list the length of a rugby field, I don’t think Martin Johnson really had a choice.
I’m very surprised at the inclusion of Steve Thompson, not in a bad way because it will produce a remarkable comeback. Thompson was awarded 48 caps for England before he was forced to retire in 2007 after a serious neck injury. He returned to rugby playing for Brive and since has received new medical advice allowing him to play.
Steve Borthwick has regained captaincy and rightly so, he is currently enjoying every success at Saracens, six out of six wins for the London club in the Guinness Premiership. But the story and career for him could have been different if the eye injury sustained against Gloucester last month turned out more serious than initially thought.
The English squad has a fair mix of old and young talent, it will be interesting to see how the younger players can learn not only from the players around them, but the players opposite them. Most of the English team will have a point to prove. Due to the size of the injury list, these players are normally viewed as second or third choice. So the competition for places in the 6 Nations and 2011 world cup start in 2 weeks.
England squad
Backs: Matt Banahan, Danny Care, Mark Cueto, Ben Foden, Shane Geraghty, Andy Goode, Dan Hipkiss, Paul Hodgson, Ugo Monye, David Strettle, Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Richard Wigglesworth, Jonny Wilkinson.
Forwards: Steffon Armitage, David Barnes*, Duncan Bell, Richard Blaze*, Steve Borthwick, George Chuter, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Ben Kay, Courtney Lawes*, Lewis Moody, Tim Payne, Steve Thompson, David Wilson, Joe Worsley.
England start their series against Australia on the 7th November at Twickenham
Who would you have starting against the Aussies?
I would go for:
1. D. Wilson
2. G. Chuter
3. T. Payne
4. S. Borthwick
5. T Croft
6. L. Moody
7. S. Armitage
8. J. Haskell
9. P. Hodgson
10. J. Wilkinson
11. M. Banahan
12. S. Geraghty
13. M. Tindall
14. U. Monye
15. B. Foden
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