Three new faces for England

World Cup winner Thompson recalled

Last updated: 26th October 2009  

Three new faces for England

Bath forward David Barnes

Related links

Teams

Also see

England manager Martin Johnson has named three uncapped players in his 32-man squad for the autumn internationals.

The new faces are David Barnes, Richard Blaze and Courtney Lawes, while World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has also been selected. World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson has been recalled.

Northampton forward Lawes has been named in the squad after England number eight Nick Easter was ruled out for four weeks with a calf injury.

Easter is one of 20 players unavailable to England through injury.

Former Northampton hooker Thompson retired as a player in April 2007 after a neck operation but returned months later to play for Brive, having initially joined the French club as a coach.

Lawes' promotion from the Saxons to elite player squad is one of 11 straight changes, which includes the return of another World Cup winner in Lewis Moody.

A replacement has yet to be named for injured prop Julian White, but Stade Francais number eight James Haskell is back in the fold to complete the 32.

Bath's veteran props Duncan Bell and Barnes are included to address the front-row crisis, while winger David Strettle, fly-half Andy Goode and Shane Geraghty also return.

There is also a place in the squad for uncapped Leicester second row Blaze.

The 24-year-old's presence has come at the expense of Simon Shaw, who is recovering from a fractured metatarsal and may struggle to be ready for the third and final Test against New Zealand on November 21.

Saracens lock Steve Borthwick has retained the captaincy for all three Tests in the Investec Series.

England host Australia on November 7, Argentina on November 14 and New Zealand on November 21. All three games are live on Sky Sports 2 and HD2.

England squad

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), D Barnes (Bath), D Bell (Bath), R Blaze (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, captain), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), B Kay (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps).
Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale), B Foden (Northampton), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Sale), M Tindall (Gloucester) R Wigglesworth (Sale), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

Click Here for Your Free Bet

Comments (54)

  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Andy Edwards says...

The injuries to the front row highlight the current dearth of young English props. Look in the Premiership for the young ones to blood or come the next world cup we will be fielding the oldest front row in the tournament. I agree with previous comments in relation to player like Foden and others. Take the opportunity in such games to give the flair players a platform. Who can forget Duckham, an erratic genius, but worth his place in the team for that one or two flashes of brilliance. Strettle, if he an recreate his pre injury form has that sort of potential. I hope I am proved wrong but can't see many with that type of ability in the lineup for Sat.

Posted 18:55 4th November 2009

Glenn Atterbury says...

Ok Im going to keep this short as Im so frustrated that the England set up, have not built a new young team since 2003 time wasted far as Im concerned, England have got so much young Talent like Foden, Johno/ ect needs to pick the younger guys now and re-build England, at the moment I feel I could do a better job as England coach I really do, true England Fans would rather Johno pick these young guns, rather than the old school, what is Johno going to do when the old school retire, that will waste another 6 years,

Posted 13:14 4th November 2009

Mick Lockwood says...

By playing Geraghty at 12 we will be playing right into our opponents hands. The likes of Mortlock, Nonu and Roberts will walk through him as though he were invisible. Much better to have him come off the bench to replace wilkinson when the opposition is tiring. Banahan (especially as he as begun to off load in the tackle) at 13 with Hipkiss at 12 would be my shout. And please, this Leicester bias cant go on. Nick Kennedy being the latest to suffer. Jonno's coaching inexperience is beginning to show. And as successful as Leicester have been in recent years they very rarely produce the quick ball that is required at international level in the modern game.

Posted 13:15 2nd November 2009

Ryan Littleboy says...

1 Barnes 2 Hartley 3 Wilson 4 Blaze 5 Borthwick 6 Croft 7 Armitage 8 Haskell 9 Hodgson 10 Wilkinson 11 Monye 12 Geraghty 13 Tindal 14 Cueto 15 Foden 16 Thomson 17 Corbisiero 18 Bell 19 Lawes 20 Crane 21 Care 22 Jon Carke 23 Strettle

Posted 21:50 28th October 2009

Dan Milo says...

i am a firm believer that english rugby has got exciting players coming through .but what i fear is that jonno plays it safe and rsorts to "experienced " and safe options. Ben foden is the most exciting attacking talent in england -pace,vision and skill but i fear that he -as already has happened to Strettle will be dispensed in favour of the power and bulk school. If Foden was Welsh -he along with Jon Clarke,Strettle,simpson Daniel and Matthew Tait would have got their chance.

Posted 21:38 28th October 2009

Nathan Hall says...

The whole squad = boring English rugby = boring Everybody is as big and strong as you now so you can't just run over the top of people and kick goals to win games anymore. There are no game breakers in your squad and no thought process at the top. If you want to be taken seriously again start by dropping Borthwick (who is pants) and get your playmakers (Geraghty is your only one) on the pitch........or just pinch a few more kiwis or saffas to do the job.

Posted 17:20 28th October 2009

James Cowan says...

YES thank god jonny is back in the squad. i was getting tired and tired of goode being anything but good. backs seem to be the best we have at the moment. forwards look go on paper but can they work together with so many uncapped players. this autum internationals i feel will be a big big learning curve for all players new and old.

Posted 17:07 28th October 2009

Emma Potts says...

Seeing some is the selections i thought "oh here we go again" !! To many old names that should take a back seat now - but i was more than impressed with seeing Laws there- watching him week in and week out he is come so far and as the big Munster game did not get to him i think he should be given a go ! Lets hope that Johnson will soon find out there is more teams in England than just his old haunt !!

Posted 13:49 28th October 2009

Steven Wilson says...

i think the crisis england is in at the moment, especialy in the front row, will ,ake or break england. i realy do hope englands players have a strong enough character to pull through this

Posted 13:38 28th October 2009

Mike Holme says...

Having read all of the comments thus far, I would agree with the following points. What does Nick Kennedy have to do to get an England shirt? Why are the likes of Varndell and Joe Simpson not being given a chance? Johnson is certainly being 'influenced' on his selection, Kay, Tindall, Goode, Chuter, Moody, etc. We need to put the best players forward for these Autumn internationals in preparation for the upcoming six nations. I don't think we should flood the side with Leicester players, they are certainly struggling with form and the players selected are certainly not responsible for their wins so far. The form sides are Wasps, Northampton and Saracens. I have absolutely no idea why Borthwick is even in the senior squad, his ball carrying ability is very weak and his overall game is average at best, I'm sure he's a lovely chap off the field, but we want to see England win. I think Mike Wilson is wrong in his views, clearly a Leicester fan, I'm a Sale fan and would struggle to justify selection for many of the sharks players, England need to look to the likes of Wilkinson, Simpson, Ward-Smith, Haskell, Monye, Lawes and Croft to get the side into contention for the upcoming six nations. We have picked the wrong squad, players like Borthwick, Tindall, Kay, Moody, Goode, Chuter, Thompson, Crane, Tate, etc are not the type of player we should be putting in an England shirt, they have all lost their form and either need to find it again or make way for more promising players.

Posted 12:17 28th October 2009

Mike Francis says...

It's unbelievable how Johnno can leave out the likes of Simpson, Kennedy. And i think that Sackey and Vandell should be in there too. Vandell has been fantastic for wasps and so has Simpson, It is baffeling to see how the best 2nd row in the UK can be left out (Kennedy!) On the other hand, happy to see Haskell back into the squad. He totally deserves his place. Having taken a bold move to France and having payed off, I hope the people who criticised the move are kicking themselves at seeing how well he's been playing in France. I hope to see a good 10 -12 partnership from Wilko and Shane Gehraty. I just hope his defense is up to scratch cos i think he might get run at all day long...

Posted 10:34 28th October 2009

Fred Norris says...

No Sackey is not injured, I don't understand England's thinking on this. Just a year ago Sackey was first name on the team sheet, now he's been overlooked altogether. He is better than Monye, who makes big mistakes. Another winger in top form is the very quick Varndell, a proper outside lane runner who beats people. Neither Banahan, Stettle or Cueto are anything like as quick as Sackey or Varndell, so this shows England's mentality - they want strength and bulk more than out and out speed - a real shame for rugby purists such as myself and many others.

Posted 10:24 28th October 2009

Richard Morgan says...

Interesting squad!! Johnson has gone for experience in key areas, not sure some of these guys are the way forward, but they may give the experience in closing out games a quality that has been missing fo a while with recent England teams. Wilkinson is an example of that experience, he may not keep ball in hand as much as some other players but he will play territory and will run the game. He will provide points and territory but for at least one game I would like to see geraghty in from the start and see. the centre combination of 12 13 holds a concern especially defensively as some of those combinations are weak defensively and if you go hipkiss tindall there is a lack of pace. banahan in the centre alongside tindall may be an interesting combination. Monye strettle and tait would provide pace in a back line with some flair. I think this squad needs the chance to prove itself yes there are some disappointing omissions like Kennedy but this squad looks capable of pushing and testing Austrailia and New Zealand to their limits and I think this why names such as Thompson, croft, kay and Borthwick are included and with the fact that the maul has featured in the tri nations these players will provide power and hopefully domination in this area. What would be nice to see is a decline in the number of penalties conceded by England some of them just pure lack of discipline around the ruck area. Lets take a leaf out of Austrailia's New Zealand and South Africa's books they disrupt and slow ball down but are clever about it.

Posted 08:57 28th October 2009

Mike H says...

Not too impressed no. Far too many Leicester players in again, surprise surprise. And the ones being released now are not the right ones - Blaize and Strettle especially desrve to be in squad. So it looks like the old boys have won out again - even Steve Thompson is back! Tindall good in his day but his day is over. Andy Goode was never good in his day and it is a joke if Johnson thinks he's good enough to wear the England shirt. He's not even even a consistently good kicker - Charlie Hodgson, an infinitely better flyhalf than Goode must be wondering what's in Johnson's head. Well Goode is an ex tiger isn't he!

Posted 08:08 28th October 2009

Mike Wilson says...

We need to bring the attacking flair back into english rugby-what is the point on wheeling out the old guard-Kay,Tindall,Thompson and Goode I hope that Jonno takes a positive step and gives the likes of Foden,Strettle,Geraghty and Hipkiss an extended run in the first team. Great to see Laws,Blaze and Deacon in the forwards as they are all in great form at present. Payne -Hartley- Wilson- Laws - Borthwick- Moody-Crane-Croft - Care-wilko-geraghty-hipkiss-strettle-foden-monye An exciting blend of youth and experience;combined with club partnerships

Posted 20:35 27th October 2009

Ian Gibb says...

England are not in the league of Ireland and wales at the minute, and by the looks of it they will take a few more years to get to our standard. And will be even longer too see them back to there world cup wining days.

Posted 19:58 27th October 2009

Nathan Donnachie says...

Where is simpson-daniel he is constantly overlooked eventhough he is one of the best running backs in the premiership

Posted 19:15 27th October 2009

Gareth Lewis says...

I think Jon Clarke is also a man who needs to get into the England midfield asap. Reminds me of Greenwood and brings players into the game whilst is strong defensively a vital centre component. Simpson daniel has to be in ahead of Cueto and Abendanon back up for Foden. Kennedy the best lock int he Prem is a mind boggling rejection. I hope Geraghty and Hipkiss can handle the powerhouses of Mortlock and Nonu. The key is Foden, Armitage and other youngsters can show the club form on the big stage..... Plenty of talent on the pitch to make it interesting for sure.

Posted 18:52 27th October 2009

Adam Harper says...

How the hell hasnt Joe Simpson been picked. Is there a scrumhalf who has made more metres than him??? Wigglesworth has struggled to get past Peal.

Posted 18:29 27th October 2009

Tom Dugmore says...

Hmm, not a bad selection there. Quite puzzled by Barnes' inclusion though. Surely if you're going to hand out first caps, it should be to players you're looking to bloody, rather than those who'll most likely have retired by the 2015 World Cup. Though having said that, the front line crisis is quite serious...

Posted 18:03 27th October 2009
  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private