Lancaster rings changes
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Interim head coach Stuart Lancaster has named a new-look England squad ahead of their defence of the Six Nations crown.
Nine uncapped players have been included in the 32-man group including first time call-ups for Saracens centres Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell, Northampton Saints' Lee Dickson and Calum Clark, and Scarlets' Ben Morgan. Among the casualties are Gloucester centre Mike Tindall, Quins' No.8 Nick Easter and Sale win Mark Cueto.
Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: "We are very excited by the make-up of the two squads. Lots of players have been putting their hands up and there were some tough calls to make. However,in line with the selection philosophy about starting new era for English rugby,we have taken the chance to make changes and give players opportunities to be part of the journey towards 2015. We very much see this as a group of 64, with opportunities for the Saxons playing in the forthcoming A internationals to come into the senior squad at any time.
"We have lost some great players who have worn the England shirt with pride and distinction - Lewis, Steve and Jonny - and we should thank them for all they did. Others haven't been selected for this EPS cycle and I have met them and explained the reasons why as we look for the next player to step up in that position to take us forward.
"We are looking both at the present and just as importantly the future. We wanted to get the right balance in potential and experience and giving us the flexibility to play in different ways. We need to use the upcoming games to build the collective experience and we are confident we have got the right mix to take England forward into this Six Nations and beyond."
England Elite Player Squad:
FORWARDS: (18)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Rob Webber (London Wasps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
BACKS: (14)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), David Strettle (Saracens), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
England Saxons Elite Player Squad:
FORWARDS: (18)
David Attwood (Bath Rugby), Chris Brooker (Harlequins), Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints), Matt Garvey (London Irish), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Jamie Gibson (London Irish), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors), Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), David Paice (London Irish), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), George Robson (Harlequins), Andrew Saull (Saracens), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
BACKS: (14)
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby), Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers), Delon Armitage (London Irish), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Karl Dickson (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), Micky Young (Leicester Tigers)
