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Join the Sky Sports Debate by letting us know your views on Martin Johnson's England squad
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Comments
Tom Huggins says...
Overall, fairly happy with Jono's first selection, just would have really enjoyed watching Matt Banahan, Ben Foden and Ryan Lamb given a go against the All Blacks. The Saxons look awsome aswell!
Posted 14:54 13th May 2008
Nick Pilcher says...
Well well Johno! Quite a time he must've had over the last couple of fantastic weeks! What an advert for Northern Hemisphere Rugger. Not only have we been pulling out all the stops in the Premiership, but we've also had teams gutsing it out in the Heineken Cup. Lovely stuff... A very balanced squad here, and Im also pleased to see so many London Irish players included (but then I would be as an avid Exiles fan...). Its a shame there are so many injuries, but this has forced Johno to be bold and to select on FORM. This is something Ive been ranting about for a couple of years. Why select purely on reputation? This is why Care, Ojo and Kennedy please me particularly. Also with th big Bath boys cantering about the park like centres we should at last see some more of Englands running game. Im a little bewildered as to why Banahan and Lamb didnt receive the 'nod', and as for poor old Simpson-Daniel.... hows your luck? Lets take our beautiful game on the road and show the Kiwi's how its done!
Posted 14:41 13th May 2008
Tom Dugmore says...
The only weakness I see in the squad really is the lack of full backs. I agree it's a toughie with Josh Lewsey injured and Balshaw being a poor replacement. Foden would have probably made an excellent addition to the squad, but with him leaving to play scrum-half, I can see why Johnson wouldn't want to waste time blooding someone who probably won't produce the goods later on - there's plenty of other good choices for scrum half in the form of Care, Ellis and Wigglesworth. Oh well, I'm sure Tait will step into the full back role nicely. Let's just hope Hodgson can bring his season's performance to the international squad.
Posted 13:59 13th May 2008
Adam Watts says...
once again from the 2 squads touring this summer there is only 1 Saracen in there!! what about the likes of adam powell, dan scarbrough or richard houghton?
Posted 13:41 13th May 2008
Michael Jennings says...
Josh Lewsey has no been selected, as he made it clear to MJ that he did not want to go on this tour- he has had some problems with his leg (having a pint of fluid drained from it in the last few days) and so wants to recover fully over the summer.
Posted 13:37 13th May 2008
Russell Evans says...
I can not inderstand why Josh Lewsey is not included. The best Full Back and very reliable, and a big game player. Anyone tell me why?
Posted 13:36 13th May 2008
Robert Smith says...
Once again the mighty worcester are over looked with a great lock in Craig Gilles and the most lethal winger in the league Miles Benjamin when will a England coach start picking a team on performances in the Premiership. I am happy some of the other players have got into the Saxons squad but the 3 highest try scorers in the league have not got into the main england squad. it is on the summer tours where they can get the Vital experience needed to play in the greatest rugby competition the Six Nations. I am sure martin johnson will get round to seeing the Mighty Worcester soon and find out what class players we have in Gilles, Benjamin, Wood, Garvey and Sanderson
Posted 13:36 13th May 2008
James Brooks says...
i agree with the selections as of present....we have to remember those who are injured need time to recover...johnno's been a player so he knows this better than most....i'm licking my lips at seeing how the two danny's get on could be exciting times ahead, potential for a really explosive partnership there and their both under 22....agree maybe haughton should have been given the chance to prove himnself, if he does well in nz he'll do well anywhere so its a shame he's not been tested....sinbad will be back the last thing he needs is to be injured again whilst he's been playing so well in the gp....love the forwards selection great mixture of expericance and talent...would have liked to see Webber included though the earlier he's blooded the better but hopefully he'll turn up in the ai's or the six nations.....great start as long as the selection for the team is right and johnno's not afraid to make changes in the future as messers Foden Haughton Webber Sinbad Varndell Abendanon Lamb Waldouck armitage and wilson will all be knocking at the door as will others.....which brings me to my next point....johnno's been clever in the sense that he's taken experiance and in form players on the tour and i'm sure has told the rest that as good as they are to get in the squad now they will have to be so superb as to be not be ignored in the future....so now we have a great mixture in the squad and great competition for places ensuring the only players that come into the squad now will have to be better than the current crop.....bring on the kiwis, the melons and any other fruit orientated nicknamed teams England are back and so is johnno.....
Posted 13:34 13th May 2008
James Smith says...
Maybe I am biased in my opinion by Worcester's turnaround this year has been thanks to Miles Benjamin and I cannot believe he has been overlooked, he finished with 9 tries in the premiership and only really played half of the season, Also Craig Gillies has had another great season and once again been omitted. Benjamin is one of the fastest players i have seen this year and outpaced Tom Varndell in our home fixture easily. I know the Warriors are not a fashionable club but when are the England selectors going to consider these talented players?
Posted 13:32 13th May 2008
Chris Smith says...
Why do people keep questioning Hodgson's selection?? Himself and Cipriani have been the stand-out fly-halves of the season, playing extremely flat and releasing the rest of their backs superbly. Hodgson may not have had the best goal kicking record in an England shirt (even though his premiership record is up there with the best) - but who says the fly-half has to kick goals. Olly Barkley, for example at inside centre could share the burden. Hodgson's all-round game is amazing - Will Greenwood even acknowledged that there 'is no better passer in the game' than Hodgson in his newspaper column. A good call from Johnson in my opinion!
Posted 13:31 13th May 2008
Tom Brown says...
Are Josh Lewsey, Richard Haughton and Nick Wood injured? I thought they would have featured? I thought Myles Benjamin may have been given a call up for the Saxons as the Rugby Club folk rave about him - I also believe Lamb hasn't got the nod as unfortunately he has a knack of arguing with the ref and losing his cool once things are not going as he wishes.
Posted 13:25 13th May 2008
Rob Pinn says...
Tom Voyce ignored again I see, he has scored twice as many GP tries as Topsy Ojo this season even though he has missed half the season. I also think it's a big ask for Dylan Hartley to go from National League 1 rugby against the likes of Esher to playing the All Blacks. I agree he is a good prospect but the jump in class is a big one, he also hasn't played recently as league 1 finished before the GP. Nice to see Paice and Kennedy in the squad.
Posted 13:07 13th May 2008
Stuart Milliner says...
I completely agree with the decisions on players picked in the squad, however there is only one player who is missing, eho is fit, able to to play and is a crdit to the sport. Simon Shaw, how could you leave the beast out, he attacks well, he defends well, he has had an extroadinary season with wasps, i cannot understand how you can put Palmer in the squad and leave Shaw out, both play for the same team and yet Simon Shaw plays better all round. But all in all a great decision and selection by MJ
Posted 12:57 13th May 2008
Dave P says...
Shocked Dan Hipkiss isnt included, looking forward to seeing Care and Cipriani together. Well done MJ
Posted 12:31 13th May 2008
Hugh Jarse says...
Any team heading to NZ at the end of a long season are going to struggle - but agree that the younger players should be blooded
Posted 12:20 13th May 2008
Hayley Arksey says...
Where is Richard Haughton?? Very impressive season and one of the few people who managed to completely shut down the likes of Shane Williams! Very sad to not see him included. Also think James Simpson-Daniel is unlucky not to be included after the good season he's had. On a positive note I'm pleased to see Danny Care has been selected in the main squad! Definitely one to watch out for!
Posted 12:04 13th May 2008
Jack Campbell says...
Ellis, Sinbad and Geraghty were all not considered because of shoulder surgery and in Ellis' case recovery. So taking that into consideration this is definitely the right team. It looks as if Tait has been picked as a fullback so hopefully he will get a full test there and we can see what he does. Banahan and Varndell can count themselves unlucky they couldn't have done more this season but I think Ojo just edges them and Strettle and Sackey deserve their places on experience and form. Haughton has had a good season but I don't see him in the same bracket as the other wingers, a very good club player yes, but not an international. Hodgsons selection will be debated by some but I think he is an able deputy to Cipriani and I think we should give Lamb more time, undoubtably he will be in the squad soon but I want to see him develop more with the Saxons and see where we stand come the Autumn. The skipper choice was tough. There are very few players with leadership potential who are assured of their place in the team. Tindall is too injury prone and it is too early for Haskell so Borthwick who has been an outstanding leader and performer for Bath to get the nod. Exciting times ahead....
Posted 11:42 13th May 2008
Tom Buckman says...
Great selection by MJ. He's brought in some young guys, whilst keeping a good strong core of experienced, but not past-it, talent. I'm really looking forward to the tour now. Brown has a chance to cement the full back slot by the looks of it - and deserves to as he's had another great season for Quins. Stretts and Sacks look set to occupy the wings and I would reckon on the in-form Barkley partnering Tindall in the midfield. The two Danny's could be absolutely awesome if played together in the half-backs - flair and speed in that department is something we have been missing for a good couple of seasons. The back line looks pretty exciting. The forwards look as though they will set up a great platform for the young backs, on paper. The front row will almost certainly be flanked by Sheridan and Stevens, whilst I would bet on Mears hooking in-between. Borthwick will obviously start and you would hope to see Kennedy partnering him after two incredible seasons of lineout masterclass. The back row will probably be made up of Haskell, Lipman and Easter - two quick aggressive tacklers and runners, and one controlled and calm ball-carrier. Good balance. Easter should also keep Care calm at the back of the scrum. Overall, a pretty fantastic selection of a squad. Looking at the remainder of the squad, Andrew will have impact players at his disposal off the bench such as Hartley, Croft and Tait as well as experience if necessary in the form of Kay and Hodgson. Let's just hope there are no injuries between now and then. That will be Johnno's main worry right now with all the finals coming up. Oh, and the Saxons squad is pretty fantastic too! Well done Martin! It's going to be a great summer - I can feel it!
Posted 11:37 13th May 2008
Dan James says...
Josh Lewsey??????????????????
Posted 11:35 13th May 2008
Michael Jennings says...
I'm pretty suprised that Ryan Lamb has not been included in the tour party. I know taking along two inexperienced (relatively) standoffs may seem a bit of a risk, but they've got to be bloodied somewhere? To be honest, i think the likes of Cipriani and Lamb would thrive off of the situation. Elsewhere, thank god Vainikolo has been left out, he just doesnt cut it at international level yet. Banahan can feel hard done by, and as for Simba, its just another notch on his belt of rejections. Im not sure if he will be fit for the tour, but if he was, i'd like to think he'd be selected.
Posted 11:04 13th May 2008
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