We’ve had advanced word from Pennyhill Park that there are six changes to the England team to play France this weekend.
Delon Armitage and Ugo Monye were released back to their clubs, making way for Ben Foden to claim his first Test start in the full-back jersey, and for Chris Ashton to finally get the place he deserves.
Mike Tindall comes in for Mathew Tait, Toby Flood replaces Jonny Wilkinson, Simon Shaw returns to oust Louis Deacon and Lewis Moody comes in for James Haskell, with Joe Worsley switching to the blindside.
England Team
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Riki Flutey (CA Brive)
11 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins)
1 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain)
6 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers
19 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
21 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
spot on with uncle mat and ian, except with care.
its funny how some people dont make the step up to international standard.
care just hasnt. 2 steps then pass……too slow. questionable temprement under pressure, not bright enought for the positition i think.
Youngs is the future.
i like dowson and robshaw – the latter that bit more mobile than haskell.
also ben woods at leicester looks good.
can someone tell me what happened to dan ward-smith at wasps? real ball playing athlete.
Its good to see Foden and Ashton in the team and a start for Flood, but Tindall for Tait, is just another step backwards.
Albeit due to public pressure, the changes for England are hugely positive. Of course there are other changes that may have happened, but this is more than a start. Tindall for Tait is very sensible given the power of both Bastareud and Jauzion in the centres for France. It is not a step backwards at all, as Tait has been given some time to prove himself now and not done it. If Tindall’s inclusion means that more exciting lightweight players like Ashton and Foden can be included around him, then that is definitely a good thing.
All in all, this team isn’t too bad – on paper. Sorry to see Tait dropped to the bench though i do think the inclusion of someone more heavyweight to counter Bastareaud is a good idea. Why have Payne, Easter, Worsley and Borthwick retain their places? And how the hell is Deacon yet again on the bench? Where are Lawes of Kennedy MJ? Why do you dislike them so much? Having lost the tournament now, i would much rather have seen this as a pure experiment game with the likes of the following being given a chance:
1. Mullen
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Kennedy
6. Fourie
7. Moody
8. Dowson
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Ashton
12. Flutey
13. Hape
14. Cueto
15. Foden
16. Wilson
17. Mears
18. Shaw
19. Armitage/Haskell
20. Care/Hodgson
21. Wilkinson
22. Tait
Tommy,
Wow, good squad. I will go with those ones although Mullen would not be my fav here. But the 4 til 8 is a smashing lineup. Fourie/Moody and Dowson, what an enegry these guys will brinjg to the table. Together with the best 2n row you can imagine. Kennedy and Lawes. This looks fantastic with Steffon Armitage joining after 40 minutes for Moody or Fourie. I will go with this squad and I would add Simpson-Daniel to the bench as well to have a killer on the bench as well.
Like the squad a lot Tommy. I agree with every selection apart from Moody – would have Steffan Armitage in there. But it’s a really tight call. And Proppie you make a good shout with Simpson-Daniel on the bench. England has a lot of talent there, we just need MJ to start nurturing it!
Mullen wouldn’t be my first choice either, but with Sheridan out, I’m unsure who else could fill the slot? Love the idea of JSD in the team, but couldn’t find room for him unfortunately – would also love to include Turner-Hall and Croft, but again, i couldn’t find room for them.
In a strange way though i almost hope none of these players play for England, as everyone that does, seems to lose their talent.
Saturdays team has damage limitation written all over it, and in a way I hope the french stuff us good and proper, just to prove a point!
Also, i have a new theory on the MJ scenerio not including the best players we have to offer – could it be that certain players disagree with the way things are done (i.e coaching/management/game plan etc etc) and openly voice these concerns? If so, it may explain the exclusion of the likes of players like Cip, Kennedy, Lawes etc etc. Lets face it, even Josh Lewsey last year (i think) openly voiced his concerns and about about 2 wks later announced his retirement. Coincidence?
Nice to see Johnno protecting his young stars so well, i.e, telling them their not good enough for several months and then throwing them in against France in Paris, chuffin norra.
Wouldn’t Italy or scotland or wales been a better time to experiment with Foden and Ashton he is proving himslef to be reactionary instead of visionary.
I do like the backline but it is a team built to tackle, damage limitation. We are still not seeing Lawes, Mullen, S Armitage and Dowson, some young legs to get the pack moving, thank god haskell is gone I have never seen such a useless piece of meat, and we are talking a lot of meat.
At least Worsley and Moody will battle all day, their going to have to.
Ronbraz, you’re completely right in everything you said. Johnson may have finally made changes, but it is completely reactionary and shows no class or vision. To throw these players in for France away makes a mockery of him not thinking they could cope with the other six nations games. It just proves that he’s either done it to appease the public or because he’s realised he should have made changes a long time ago! I agree there are many others that should be in too. I don’t think he’ll ever see it that way though.
Borthwick out Deacon in, one useless player for another so we haven’t lost anything their then, lineout should be funny though.
BUT, where in the hell did Palmer come from, nothing against the chap I think he is under rated but he hasn’t been involved at all and I thought they were develpoing Lawes for a place in the starting 15 now he ain’t even on the bench.
What has he done wrong to deserve this?
\