England squad for autumn internationals announced
England coach Stuart Lancaster unveiled his 32-man squad for the autumn internationals on Thursday with Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) and James Haskell (London Wasps) all promoted from the England Saxons as injury replacements for Alex Corbisiero, Ben Foden, Rob Webber and Tom Croft respectively.
Northampton duo Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes also return to the fold after missing the summer tour to South Africa through injury.
The squad will meet at St George’s Park, Burton on Sunday as they prepare to tackle Fiji, Australia, South Africa and world champions New Zealand at Twickenham throughout November.
“As a coaching team we can’t wait to go into camp and get the guys focused on what will be a massive challenge in the QBE Internationals – Fiji and then the three major Southern Hemisphere teams in successive weeks,” Lancaster said.
Monye and Haskell have both turned out for England before, winning 13 and 39 caps respectively, but Youngs and New Zealand-born Vunipola, son of former Tonga captain Fe’ao Vunipola, will both be hoping to get their first taste of international rugby.
“It’s great to be able to give Mako a chance in the squad,” Lancaster added. “He has come through our age grade sides and made a real impact at Saracens.
“Likewise Tom Youngs, who was with us on tour in South Africa, and we know what James Haskell and Ugo Monye are capable of if they get their opportunity.”
What are your thoughts on the squad and who was unlucky to miss out?
England squad
FORWARDS (17)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
BACKS (15)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
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Not really surprised by the selection, disapointed that Burns isnt being given a shot, but has been previously said it seems that Lancaster’s hands were tied. Definetly reckon Care should start, has been on great form, and I don’t think it is true that Flood can only play with Youngs.
Anyone know who is broadcasting these matches?
I echo most comments already made really. It is a conservative selection from Lancaster following the radical changes he made when he first came into office. I think he is practising what he preaches though by trying to form a core squad that stays together to gain experience without too much disruption. That being said, I am really disappointed to see form players such as Stefon Armitage, Freddie Burns, Christian Wade and George Robson miss out. They would have really strengthened the squad without disrupting the ’1st Team Core’ too much. One more last thing – he needs to rethink his policy on the non-selection of French based players as there is too much talent to overlook the likes of Armitage.
My starting team from this squad would be:
1. J. Marler
2. D. Hartley
3. D. Cole
4. C. Lawes
5. G. Parling
6. T. Johnson
7. C. Robshaw
8. B. Morgan
9. D. Care
10. T. Flood
11. U. Monye
12. B. Barritt
13. M. Tuilagi
14. C. Ashton
15. M. Brown
16. M. Vunipola
17. D. Wilson
18. T. Youngs
19. T. Palmer
20. T. Wood
21. B. Youngs
22. O. Farrell
23. A. Goode
Very tempted to swap Jonathan Joseph in for Owen Farrell on the bench and use Alex Goode as fly half cover but I think it would be too much of a gamble in an international if Flood were to get injured. So Farrell gets the nod because he covers 10 and both centres.
Feel sorry for Burns I think he mirits a chance, at least get him involved so he gets a feel for the setup.
But as said there were a lot of changes last year, I think they want to stabalise things, I agree.
Still a young team, though the same problems exist, the middfield will not ripp anone apart to say the least, no real openside flanker, all limiting our game.
Burns and Twelvetrees have to be in the mox during the 6N, probably better for them that way
Same old pragmatic selection. Are we looking to do well in the World cup, or
are we looking to win it.This guarded selective approach does nothing for the future. Farrell is too slow (and runs with the confidence of someone who is too slow). Toby is getting older and slower.Burns is an obvious choice.Play him now and he’ll have 30 caps buy the world cup.Lancaster is looking to the future by ignoring Easter’s form and playing Morgan. Why not the same approach with the 10 shirt.–Ditto Jonathan Joseph,Christian Wade,
For the last time, he could only bring in players to replace those retired or injured. Expect some new blood when the EPS is announced in January.
ultimate team without injury:
1 corbisiero
2 hartley
3 cole
4 borthwick
5 robson
6 croft
7 robshaw
8 waldrom
9 care
10 burns
11 foden
12 goode
13 tualagi
14 ashton
15 brown
16 t youngs
17 marler
18 lawes
19 haskell
20 johnson
21 b youngs
22 cipriani
23 joseph
Dear Geat.I’m talking about wholesale structural change, putting England and its future success first.This will mean changing the club/National set up for good because it does not work. Any successful organisation can not afford to stand still.To reiterate-if you keep doing what you are doing ,you will keep getting what you are getting.