Hodgson's England chance

Sale fly-half pushing to replace Cipriani and Wilkinson

Last updated: 19th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hodgson's England chance

Hodgson: England ambitions

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Charlie Hodgson will get the chance to stake his claim for the England No.10 shirt after being named in the 27-man squad to face the Barbarians.

With Danny Cipriani ruled out for six months after suffering a fracture dislocation f his left ankle in the Guinness Premiership play-off semi-final win over Bath and Jonny Wilkinson needing surgery on his shoulder, Hodgson is now in pole position to start at fly-half against the All Blacks in June.

The Sale ace will travel to New Zealand with competition from Olly Barkley, Toby Flood and an as yet unnamed replacement for Cipriani, however he looks set to get a chance to prove his credentials against the Barbarians on June 1.

However with Flood and Barkley both equally as comfortable at inside centre, Hodgson now seems set to get the nod for the fly-half role.

Martin Johnson has also handed some of the fringe internationals a chance with players from Bath, Wasps and Leicester not considered for the match due to their respective European Challenge Cup and Premiership play-off final commitments.

Marker

Anthony Allen and Ugo Moyne have been included in the backs, while outgoing Leeds captain Stuart Hooper, Tom Guest, Chris ones and Saracens Nick Lloyd will all look to catch the eye.

RFU elite director Rob Andrew, who will act as England's tour manager for New Zealand, said: "We've picked a very strong England squad to prepare for the match against the Barbarians with all the players selected for the training week travelling with either the England senior team or the Saxons this summer.

"There a lot of caps amongst the backs and with so many forwards tied up with their clubs in the Guinness Premiership and European Challenge Cup finals a number of players in the Saxons squad will have their opportunity to put a marker down for future senior team selection."

The final 22-man squad for the match will be announced on Wednesday, May 28.

England - Forwards: A Clarke (Bristol), N Easter (Harlequins), T Guest (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Hobson (Bristol), S Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), N Lloyd (Saracens), L Narraway (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins), D Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: A Allen (Gloucester), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), T Flood (Newcastle Falcons), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), U Monye (Harlequins), J Noon (Newcastle Falcons), T Ojo (London Irish), P Richards (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Newcastle Falcons), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks).

Comments (14)

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Alex Price says...

Charlie is a great goalkicker and a great player... in the premiership, its a shame he bottles it in the premiership. but on the subject of picking goode, he also doesn't shine on the international stage either. so in all honesty i think ryan lamb should be in charlie's place to see how he hacks it and we will hopefully have him and danny fighting for the 10 shirt for years to come. Come on England!!!!!!!!

Posted 23:00 21st May 2008

Marko Lanus says...

You must be joking!!! not again! I would rather see England with a 14 man team that to see Hodgson 'Choke' the game away, game after game! a shocking choice... Where is Lamb? Barkley? Hope Danny and Johnny are on the mend soon.

Posted 15:14 21st May 2008

Jaker Bonnett says...

lets give charlie hodgson a chance he is a prolific goal kicker and hes not afraid to open his mouth

Posted 10:21 21st May 2008

Amanda Knowles says...

After watching Charlie come back from his knee surgery and play well all season for his club, I think he deserves a chance - at least you won't get the regular inconsistency of Andy Goode & his good/bad days. And there must be a reason why Ryan Lamb hasn't been picked - is he going to Canada & USA with the other Saxons - or has his "sensational season" taken it out of such a young player? As for Sheridan - he's off to NZ, let him have a bit of a rest first after a cracking season for both Sale and England! Lets just hope that Luke McAllister plays as poorly for the All Blacks as he has for his last 3 games for Sale.....

Posted 09:58 20th May 2008

John James says...

I think Ryan Lamb of Gloucester should come in to play a few minutes and get his chance on the scene as a reward for young player of the year. An exciting mixture in the squad although I hope we can prove we are hard hitters in the tackles- the Barbarians will be!

Posted 01:57 20th May 2008

Mike Smith says...

Am i the only one that thinks Ryan Lamb should be playing - he has had a sensational season

Posted 23:41 19th May 2008

Aves Blake says...

wheres sheridan,mears or stevens?

Posted 19:37 19th May 2008

Thomas Cummings says...

I cannot beleive he is being given yet another chance. He can't kick his goals on the international stage, he has never even performed well on the international and i can't see why England are still considering selecting him. I thought with a change in regime at the RFU things like this; i.e. the selection of poor players would stop but it obviously won't. Its such a shame that the two young starlets in Cipriani and Geraghty are not fit for this tour. Hopefully Johno selects a quality replacement possibly in the form of Goode and he puts in a good performance in the Premiership final and plays his way into the England first XV.

Posted 19:15 19th May 2008

R P says...

im sorry but james simpson daniel has been far better than both monye and strettle this season,

Posted 18:41 19th May 2008

Dave Glanvill says...

Chas thats the squad to face the barbarians not New Zealand! A large number of the players are involved in either the G.P. finals or the Challenge cup final. They will be on the tour to New Zealand so this squad is merely a weakrer squad purely to face the Barbarians

Posted 18:14 19th May 2008

Mike Licker says...

lamb should be involved but really should you have missed out the volcano he makes things happen and is 2 top try scorer who eng will miss like sinbad top try scorer this season bt nt picked due to his shoulder op eng need him banahan should be in aswell.

Posted 16:54 19th May 2008

Geraint Evans says...

This could be a great opportunity as a springboard for the NZ tour. Although I hope most of the forwards away with their premiership final squads and european cup squads stay injury free as they will be crucial for the summer tour. Great chance for hodgson who now has any ever improving Flood playing alongside him, who could act as a perfect foil - relieving some of the kicking duties.

Posted 16:49 19th May 2008

Chas Johnston says...

Wait till they arrive in New Zealand, the All Blacks are going to extract some serious revenge! Pay back time is nigh and this squad are going to get slaughtered!

Posted 15:47 19th May 2008

Andy Hill says...

About Time Charlie has been selected again. He has been the most inform Fly Half in my opinion other than Danny Cipriani. His attacking the defensive line always helps get the opposition on the back foot. I think that the appointment of Martin Johnson is a sound decision because he has been there and done that in the last few years. GOOD ON YOU CHARLIE AND MARTIN!!

Posted 15:12 19th May 2008
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