Haskell back for England

Hartley, Bell and Hodgson also included to face Pumas

By Tony Curtis   Last updated: 11th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Related links

Teams

Also see

England back-row James Haskell has been rewarded for his impressive display off the bench against Australia with the No.8 shirt against Argentina.

Haskell, whose career has been kick-started by a move to Stade Francais, added some much needed dynamism off the bench - and England boss Martin Johnson will be looking for him to make the same in-roads at Twickenham on Saturday.

Haskell replaces Leicester's Jordan Crane, who was discarded from the matchday 22 on Tuesday, with Wasps flanker Joe Worsley named among the replacements.

Dylan Hartley also comes into the starting XV after impressing off the bench, with the Northampton hooker getting the nod ahead of Steve Thompson to form part of a new-look front-row.

Bath's 35-year-old prop Duncan Bell replaces the injured David Wilson to start alongside Tim Payne, with new-boy Paul Doran-Jones set for a dramatic first cap off the bench.

Gloucester's Doran-Jones has only made a handful of Premiership appearances since moving from London Welsh in the summer, however he has impressed scrum coach Graham Rowntree.

Change

With the Pumas able to call on the scrummaging talents of Rodrigo Roncero, Marcos Ayerza, Mario Ledesma and Martín Scelzo it could be a baptism of fire of the 24-year-old Doran-Jones.

Johnson has resisted the temptation to bring the impressive Courtney Lawes in to the pack, with Louis Deacon set partner skipper Steve Borthwick in the second row.

The England backs, who came in for heavy criticism following the 18-9 defeat to Australia, remain largely the same.

The only change comes at scrum-half, with Paul Hodgson charged with supplying Jonny Wilkinson with quicker ball. Danny Care drops to the bench.

That means the partnership of Wilkinson and Shane Geraghty will get another chance to shine after a stuttering start against Australia.

Dan Hipkiss retains the No.13 jersey, with Ayoola Erinle on the bench.

Johnson said of his selections: "With Dylan (Hartley) it was an opportunity to get him back into the team.

"Steve (Thompson) played very well last week but Dylan is a slightly different player.

"He has been around this team all year and it is a good chance for him to play. He is obviously a dynamic ball-carrier for us and I'm looking forward to seeing him out there.

"James (Haskell) is another guy who has been out of the team a little over the last year, but you know what you get with him. It is a big opportunity for him to play at number eight.

"With Paul (Hodgson) and Danny (Care), there is an argument as to who starts and who comes off the bench, but it is an opportunity for Paul to start and he deserves it.

"It's tough call on Jordan Crane but it was a chance to get Joe Worsley back into the squad.

"If you've got a world-class player available you probably need to include him."

England: 15 Ugo Monye, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Paul Hodgson, 1 Tim Payne, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Louis Deacon, 5 Steve Borthwick (capt), 6 Tom Croft, 7 Lewis Moody, 8 James Haskell.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Paul Doran-Jones, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Danny Care, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Ayoola Erinle

2010 6 Nations Winner Win Outright: England 11/4

Comments (28)

  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Gary Owen says...

I agree with most of the reflections above, but is the main issue simply the lack of top class players? We do have a lot of injuries but I suspect that many other countries have greater depth. Are there too many foreign players in the premiership? On an unrelated subject could the 'marketing' guys in rugby please note that rugby fans are generally mature and intelligent people and are able to celebrate a score without being bombarded by moronic music. It is an insult to the fans. Now I am building up a head of steam does anyone agree with me that refereeing by camera is not a good thing. I believe it seriously interrupts the flow of the game and is far from infallible. Television cameras are not the solution, they are the problem - because the refs are naturally wary of being seen to make mistakes they play safe and 'go upstairs'. I will now climb down off my soapbox and take a chill pill.

Posted 14:30 12th November 2009

Neil A says...

Oh dear! I supported Johnno on one of these forums the other day and how does he repay me? Geraghty looked lost at 12 against the Aussies. When he switched to first receiver, he looked better but then Johnny at 12 isn't any better. As for Banahan, the so called 'secret weapon', international teams stopped fearing big wingers in 1995 especially ones who can't finish. Get Foden in at 15 and put Ugo back where he belongs. Hodgson for Care is much of a muchness (and I'm a Quins fan) so other than Haskell and Hartley, I can't see any imagination at all. Very dissapointed.

Posted 14:17 12th November 2009

Mighty Quin says...

Johno waas a rugby player, great captain and leader, but not a great coach...recently watched re-run of englands world cup win and rugby has moved on so much since then but Johno and his coaches have not....however the buck should really stop with Andrew...when Ashton was unfairly dumped, all coaches sould have been cleared out and a completely new regime brought in and until that happens we will continue to be also rans...interesting to mention that it was when the TEAM had meeting during last world cup, they began to pay as a team...old stagers should tell coaches we don't want to play this way and we don't a t club level and then just may be we will win some thing

Posted 13:19 12th November 2009

Neil Martin says...

This is pathetic, if Johnson is trying to prove to us that he's stubborn and short sighted, then congratulations, job well done. We're lacking depth in the front row, although Hartley and Payne are definately up there, the second rows are nothing short of a joke, you have players like Kennedy, Lawes and Shaw who are all much better that Deacon and Borthwick. Neither second row did anything last weekend, the Aussie locks had a field day, imagine the carnage against the All Blacks. Backrow has made a slight improvement, Moody did play very well last week, but he's only in the side due to Tom Rees being injured, Croft is a certain on the blindside and Haskell at 8 is a step in the right direction. Neither Care or Hodgson should be wearing the 9 shirt, that should go to Joe Simpson, sounds like a very pro-Wasp thing to say, but is there any scrum half in the country who can match his pace and attacking flair? I would leave the centres alone for now, along with Wilko, wings need to change, drop Bannahan, he only looks good against poor opposition, which is limited at international level, and give Foden a run at 15, he's got buckets of talent and pace to burn. Johnson needs to be very careful, he's making some very stupid selections, especially Goode and Erinle on the bench. Either things need to change for the better, or the fans will start watching something else...

Posted 09:03 12th November 2009

A Milner says...

what has louis deacon done to deserve a starting shirt?

Posted 07:29 12th November 2009

Steve Cook says...

England need to pick a team that goes out without the fear of failure handing over their heads. Steve Borthwick needs to either up his game and dominate the other pack and prove he is the captain behind which others will follow his lead, or be dropped. We cannot carry a player who just happens to the captain when there are better players in the same position!! Simon Shaw proved on the lions tour why he should not have been omitted from the 1st Test. By contrast, Borthwick needs to justify his selection! Ugo Monye - a classic case of trying to select a good player but out of position. Good winger. Banahan was not effective last week. Andy Goode - great club flyhalf, but not the future of England. If we are going to develope, we must take risks but play the best players in their position. The fear of failure hangs round the necks of the players like a noose. Until we realise the potential of our players by releasing them from this, we will continue to talk about a game we can never ever hope to see played.

Posted 21:53 11th November 2009

Simon Fairweather says...

Sigh. Banahan is just too slow for international rugby. By playing Monye at full back you lose his game. Surely we have a proper 15? Geraghty isn't a natural centre, he's been playing all year at 10 - why revert him back to a position he's hardly excelled at on a more prevalent stage? Frustrating and annoying.

Posted 19:58 11th November 2009

R T says...

Oh dear! Come on Johnson, show some bottle and adventure and pick a team who can play rugby. If he does that we have the players to contend with the best. As things stand another anodyne performance waits. Geraghty and Hipkiss looked short of international class. Monye is a winger. Banahan is overrated and Hodgson was proved wanting on his last run in the team and will prove so again. Deacon is also a good club player. I know the injury list is debilitating but he hasnt shown the inclination to pick the sort of game breakers an international team needs, when they were fit. Johnson was an extraordinary appointment to start with and has married tactical and personnel blundering with a refusal to back down from bad decisions - Borthwick as captain AGAIN!! - and most recenly the failed experiment of Monye as a winger. Heretical it may be but perhaps a loss against an 'inferior' team like Argentina would be the Catalyst for change at the top of the game. Sadly I suspect a narrow win and a gutsy performance against the ABs will give Johnson enough ammunition to spin his way through until the Six Nations. VAMOS PUMAS

Posted 19:19 11th November 2009

Andy Steckbeck says...

what a shame that foden isn't fit. oh hang on - he is! I'm sure it is better to play a winger out of position.

Posted 16:07 11th November 2009

Tom Dugmore says...

Glad to see Haskell and Hodgson have been given their shot after last week. Surprised Erinle kept his place, I didn't see him do anything worthy of mention and would much sooner have had Tait in there. Would get Foden in rather than Monye as well, much better kicker. Other than that, this looks a stronger squad.

Posted 16:07 11th November 2009

Old Kingsburian says...

As much as it pains me to criticize Martin Johnson, keeping Louis Deacon in the team is an absolute and complete waste of time . Deacon never has been and never will be international class. Play Lawes and lets see if the reports are true, or get Simon Shaw back in his rightful place, or preferably both.

Posted 15:51 11th November 2009

Rob James says...

Not Deacon again. What did he do to warrant another go? Questions now have to be asked regarding Johnson's capability to do the job.

Posted 15:12 11th November 2009

Ed Chalmers says...

why oh why is Andy Goode still in the england set up he's had his chance for england and he has proven time and time again that he isn't good enough with the lack of penetration England had against Australia you can't bring on Goode, give someone else a chance Ryan Lamb or Shane Geraghty and find another 12. Glad to see Hartleys been given his chance. I don't see the point in playing players who won't be there for 2011.

Posted 14:50 11th November 2009

Paul Smith says...

Bit better balance than last week - still can't work out why Foden is not playing full back - Monye did not look comftable there last week and not sure that Deacon will ever be an international player and he is also too similar to the skipper - gonna be tough up front and will need Jonny to keep slotting the kicks if we are going to have a decent chance.

Posted 14:29 11th November 2009

Roger Thomas says...

A better side ... but why retain Monye at full back when he was so clearly out of position ... also get him out of those stupid "daps" which have no studs and leave him slipping and sliding. Lets hope England use the inside ball to a winger (Banahan) on the burst (Does no-one watch the Springboks?) Signed .... "I've nearly seen enough"

Posted 13:52 11th November 2009

Ryan Doyle says...

Its a better looking selection with hartley and haskell inclusion, but still going for deacon and borthwich in 2nd row, when kennedy and lawes be so much better. Looks like Johnson put the blame on mis-firing backs on danny care which it was, monye is not a fullback and banahan is a good premiership player but internationl cant see it, Foden should have gone fullback and monye to the wing! Lets not get ahead of ourselves if we beat argentina this weekend, they arent that great we still miles behind Tri -nations teams, still behind france wales and ireland, we need a new coaching and manager Johnson hasnt got the metal to test out our youngsters who are looking good in premiership instead goes for golden oldies, bring Jake White will sort this out

Posted 13:44 11th November 2009

Pete Brads says...

Right, i dont mind the team. However i do belive that we need some power in the 2nd row. haven't seen much of lawes, but what i have seen has been impressive. Give him a go against the arg. My main point thou, is Andy Goode. What is he doing on the bench????? Can anyone please tell me????? We already have 2 fly halfs on the pitch(wilko and geraghty). It would be fine if it was someone young and/or versitly like flood/cips but its not. He's not even in good form, he probs wont come on and make a big impact. I just think the spot would be better going too some as above(young and/or versitly), like tait/turner-hall/foden/Barritt/Waldouck/ the list is long. Just my forts. O and i feel very sorry for mr kennedy. Top class player

Posted 13:35 11th November 2009

Dave B says...

A move in the right direction in the pack with the inclusion of Hartley & Haskell - both offer more dynamism. But the issue remains in the engine room that is the 2nd row; neither are up to the task at international level which will still mean slow ball for the backs. Looking forward to seeing what Hodgson can do to create some spark. The back line with good ball will score points but I still don't think its the best selection - Banahan a no-no, Monye on the wing, Foden full back and where is Tait? I'm expecting a win against Argentina but where do we go if its a loss??

Posted 13:27 11th November 2009

Ollie Johnston says...

Borthwick and Deacon in the second row again? Surely Laws has to be brought on for at least a half hour this time! Haskell is a good move given the circumstances. Hopefully Geraghty can find something like the form he is in for club as his display last Saturday was pretty poor and he is a better player than that.

Posted 13:23 11th November 2009

Matthew Todd says...

how the hell has louis deacon retained his place?

Posted 13:21 11th November 2009
  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

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