England Rugby Squad for NZ Tour

[BigMansZetec]

Ok, so Johnson has just announced his first ever squad for the June NZ tests.

England squad
Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), D Cipriani (Wasps), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), P Richards (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins).
Forwards: A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), T Payne (Wasps), M Stevens (Bath), J Hobson (Bristol), L Mears (Bath), D Hartley (Northampton), D Paice (London Irish), S Borthwick (Bath, capt), B Kay (Leicester), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Palmer (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Narraway (Gloucester).

Well done to all the new players, Ojo, Kennedy, Paice, Hartley, Care and Hobson.

Interesting that Peter Richards is in and not Paul Hodgson. Yes Richards has been playing well for the last few weeks, but not at Scrum-half!
Geraghty ruled out due to shoulder injury I believe.

Wasn't expecting Johnson to select the squad due to not going on the tour, but glad he has, makes sense to start building his squad soon as possible.

[Greenie]

No Lewsey. No Shaw.

Borthwick captain. A worthy rival to Johnson's own furrowed brow.

[stimmers]

The Squad is an excellent one. But no Geraghty ?????? JSD needs an op, Shaw has injuries too, thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Very happy to see Hodgson, Palmer, Topsy Ojo, Danny Care, Jason Hobson, Dylan Hartley, David Paice and Nick Kennedy in the squad.

Really well thought out, balanced Eng squad. I haven't said that since Woodward was in charge. Finally we have some fresh selections mixed with the older players who perform.

Looking forward to the tour now

[stimmers]

NO Geraghty is either Squad ??????

Apart from that, both squads look excellent

England Saxons squad for Churchill Cup in USA and Canada:
Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), L Dickson (Newcastle), B Foden (Sale Sharks), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Jarvis (Harlequins), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), O Smith (Leicester), T Varndell (Leicester), D Waldouck (Wasps).
Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), A Brown (Gloucester), G Chuter (Leicester), A Clarke (Bristol), J Crane (Leicester), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Lloyd (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins, capt), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), R Webber (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle).

[BigMansZetec]

Geraghty is on the injury list i'm afraid:

Players not selected because of injury:
J Lewsey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Simon Shaw (Wasps), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Phil Vickery (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester).

[Greenie]

stimmers said:

thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Praise the Lord

[BigMansZetec]

Greenie said:

stimmers said:

thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Praise the Lord

I'll second that!

[johnnywb]

I think both teams look good. The injury list looks seriously strong as well! (unfortunately!).

Would have liked to see Vainkolo in the saxons team, but otherwise i think this is a fantaistic squad and will help us to build strength through depth.

[disco1]

BigMansZetec said:

Greenie said:

stimmers said:

thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Praise the Lord

I'll second that!

Putting the whole NZ'er playing for England thing aside for a moment after seeing the guy play league for years I actually think Vanikolo is devestating when used correctly. In the England back line he is used like a traditional winger which simply doesnt float. In league they had him all over the park hitting lines and this proved very successfull. You might tackle him once or twice in a row but sooner or later he will simply knock you over. England were lacking penetration in the middle and Lesley was ready made for the role. Ashton should have been all over this like a rash. Weak decision making.

[BigMansZetec]

disco1 said:

BigMansZetec said:

Greenie said:

stimmers said:

thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Praise the Lord

I'll second that!

Putting the whole NZ'er playing for England thing aside for a moment after seeing the guy play league for years I actually think Vanikolo is devestating when used correctly. In the England back line he is used like a traditional winger which simply doesnt float. In league they had him all over the park hitting lines and this proved very successfull. You might tackle him once or twice in a row but sooner or later he will simply knock you over. England were lacking penetration in the middle and Lesley was ready made for the role. Ashton should have been all over this like a rash. Weak decision making.

Yes, you are absolutely right. England never got the best out of him that's for sure, Gloucester use him far more effectively.
Surprised he hasn't even been retained by the Saxons.

[stimmers]

disco1 said:

BigMansZetec said:

Greenie said:

stimmers said:

thank god Balshaw and Vainikolo are left out.

Praise the Lord

I'll second that!

Putting the whole NZ'er playing for England thing aside for a moment after seeing the guy play league for years I actually think Vanikolo is devestating when used correctly. In the England back line he is used like a traditional winger which simply doesnt float. In league they had him all over the park hitting lines and this proved very successfull. You might tackle him once or twice in a row but sooner or later he will simply knock you over. England were lacking penetration in the middle and Lesley was ready made for the role. Ashton should have been all over this like a rash. Weak decision making.

I agree and disagree. Agree with the part about Lesley in rugby league and not being used correctly by Eng, but for me there are simply better wingers than him in Eng. Sackey, Strettle, JSD, Varndell, Ojo are all better wingers than im at the moment. Its wasn't the best idea to put him straight into the Eng squad if you ask me, he needed at least a full season.

[BigMansZetec]

So, the new backs coach is still to be named. Now one name that hasn't been mentioned (well I haven't heard about it anyway) for the role is Brian Smith, of London Irish, but it seems this is a possibility:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union...

That is a complete surprise, but as an Irish supporter I hope its not true! Was half expecting Mike Catt to get the job.

I'm sure all will be revealed very soon.

[Nubbin]

Steve Meehan should be wrestled from Bath as backs coach - his record with Stade Francais is clear, and his influence on the new Bath offloading style is obvious. he is exactly what the talented young English backs need to forge a great running game - he might even teach them to pass properly!

[stimmers]

BigMansZetec said:

So, the new backs coach is still to be named. Now one name that hasn't been mentioned (well I haven't heard about it anyway) for the role is Brian Smith, of London Irish, but it seems this is a possibility:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union...

That is a complete surprise, but as an Irish supporter I hope its not true! Was half expecting Mike Catt to get the job.

I'm sure all will be revealed very soon.

Very very good coach. I know Shaun Edwards admires him big time. Irish backline has probably been the best in the GP this season, in attack, not so much in defence.

I'd be happy with Brian Smith. I just really wanted to see Mallinder involved somewhere, not going to happen though.

[BigMansZetec]

London Irish say:

London Irish has issued the following statement about the speculation in today’s newspapers about the future of its Director of Rugby, Brian Smith.

Andrew Coppel, Chairman of London Irish, said, “We are aware of Brian Smith’s ambitions to further his career at international level at some point in the future. However, he is contracted to London Irish for another year and our intention is that the contract will be honoured.

“Two weeks ago the club received an official approach about Brian Smith from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), verbally through its Director of Elite Rugby. The club’s Board considered the request and rejected it.”

“Under various codes of conduct governing both the RFU and clubs, any approach to a player or coach who has more than six months remaining on his contract, is expressly forbidden unless the club concerned gives its consent. London Irish has given no such consent to the RFU with regard to Brian Smith.”

[ewenm]

Nubbin said:

Steve Meehan should be wrestled from Bath as backs coach - his record with Stade Francais is clear, and his influence on the new Bath offloading style is obvious. he is exactly what the talented young English backs need to forge a great running game - he might even teach them to pass properly!

No! We want to keep him! Perhaps a loan to the England setup

[stimmers]

I'm not convinced about Meehan at International Level. Bath this season have been able to put away crap teams with some flair, but against the top teams they either score a load and conceed a load or stuggle to break through a solid defence, despite having huge amounts of good possession. Glouc vs Bath last week is an example.

Meehan's coaching of the Bath backline, and where it stands in the pecking order, will be found out on Sunday when they play under huge pressure of 'lose and your out' type rugby. Will they still go early with the high risk moves or play a % game and try and keep it tight. Interesting to see.

International rugby is all about creating the opportunity to go wide and doing so at the right time. For me, this season Bath have tried to put width on the ball far too soon and gambled too often. I don't believe you can do this in International Rugby as the defences and counter attack are too good and organised. You must go through the phases in the forwards to create space and over laps. Its a Criticism i have had with Wales in recent years. Not doing enough with the forwards and using the backs far too soon when the opposition's defence is still set. This year for the first time i think Wales have properly adopted the gameplan you need at International rugby. Solid forward platform, move the point of attack whilst keeping hold of the ball, move the opposition around and when you have gone through the phases, get quick ball and move it wide. The Space has been created by the phases and the movement sucking in defenders

I think Meehan is a good coach and done well at Bath, i just have reservations about him in the International arena

Edited by stimmers on Wednesday 14th May 13:25

[Chrispy Porker]

Why the 'England Saxons'
Are not Saxons, er, German ?

[johnnywb]

Hipkiss has been called up to replace Cipriani, who (for anyone not following rugby) is out for 6 months after dislocating his ankle.

Good to see Hipkiss called up, hope he gets some decent game time.

[BigMansZetec]

I guess the Barbarians game will be used as a warm-up for the NZ tour, and due to there being a few players involved with their clubs that weekend, it will be a good chance for the new members of the squad to have a go.

From the BBC:

Barbarians squad to face Belgium, Ireland and England:

Backs: I Balshaw (Gloucester), P Hewat (London Irish), T Delport (Worcester), L Vainikolo (Gloucester), G Thomas (Cardiff Blues), M Turinui (Queensland Reds), J Pretorius (Stormers), S Mapusua (London Irish), T Smith (ACT Brumbies), S Larkham (unattached), G Jackson (Saracens), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), M Claassens (Bath), R Powell (Worcester).

Forwards: F Pucciarello (Munster), C Visagie (Saracens), O le Roux (Leinster), P Collazo (Gloucester), D Crompton (Bristol), M Regan (Bristol), S Bruno (Sale Sharks), J Harrison (Ulster), K Chesney (Saracens), D Grewcock (Bath), R Skeate (Stormers), P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls), M Molitika (Cardiff Blues), D Croft (Queensland Reds), M Chapman (ACT Brumbies), C Newby (Otago Highlanders).