Martin Johnson has just named his revised EPS squad for the Autumn Internationals, and here it is.
FORWARDS
Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
*David Barnes (Bath Rugby)
Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby)
*Richard Blaze (Leicester Tigers)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens, CAPTAIN)
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Stade Francais)
Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)
*Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
Tim Payne (London Wasps)
Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
BACKS
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints)
Andy Goode (CA Brive)
Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Harlequins)
Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
* Denotes uncapped player
Interesting comments about Kennedy, but he isn’t in the squad, so does the capable but ordinary Deacon get the nod or does Johnno go mad and pick the undoubted talent of Lawes? Wouldn’t it be brilliant if for once he went mad and put in the new boy. As for Haskell – obviously got great ability (and isn’t shy about telling everyone about it) so this really could be his chance to show the world how good he really can be…a No. 8 will always get more opportunities to shine than a no 6, so make or break time.
Finally, I pray that Johnno goes with Hipkiss and not the plodding Tindall. Whether or not Hipkiss is the real thing is yet to be seen, but at least he stays on his feet and creates opportunities for others further down the field, plus he can actually pass! I am afraid that HRH Tinds was a top centre 5 years ago, but time has well and truly caught up with him.