England spot for Simpson

Joe Simpson has been included in England's World Cup squad - but there is no place for his Wasps team-mate Riki Flutey.

Skipper Moody one of only five back rowers picked by Johnson

Joe Simpson has been included in England's World Cup squad - but there is no place for his Wasps team-mate Riki Flutey. Scrum-half Simpson, who has yet to make his international debut, is the one surprise name in Martin Johnson's 30-man party for the upcoming tournament in New Zealand. The 23-year-old has made the final cut after Harlequins' Danny Care was ruled out of contention with a toe injury suffered in a warm-up defeat to Wales in Cardiff. Johnson has, therefore, opted to take three No.9's, the others being Leicester's Ben Youngs, who is back in training after a knee operation, and Richard Wigglesworth of Saracens. Lewis Moody - a World Cup winner in 2003 - has been named as captain despite not yet being fully fit after suffering a knee injury.

Tough calls

"The composition of the squad is very important and we think we have the right mix in the group," Johnson said. "There were some very tough phone calls made last week. Everybody came into this camp and worked extremely hard and some players have just missed out. "For us now though it is important to look forward - there is a great sense of unity in this group and we are pleased with the depth across the squad. "We have a number of leaders and experienced players and have named Lewis Moody as squad captain. We are confident he will play a pivotal role for us in New Zealand." Flutey is the biggest casualty, the New Zealand-born 31-year-old not making the final cut despite his ability to be able to act as cover in the halves. Instead Johnson has gone for Shontayne Hape, Mike Tindall and Manu Tuilagi in the centres, the latter having made a try-scoring debut against Wales at Twickenham at the start of August. The sizeable presence of Matt Banahan, who will provide the back-up to first-choice wingers Chris Ashton and Mark Cueto, can also be used in midfield. Toby Flood, another option for the inside centre position, and Jonny Wilkinson will fight it out to start at fly-half, while Ben Foden and Delon Armitage are the two full-backs chosen. Up front, England will take five props, three hookers - Dylan Hartley, Steve Thompson and Lee Mears were all certain of selection after phase one of England's summer training camp, when George Chuter was cut from the squad - and four second rowers. That means there are only five back-row berths, filled by skipper Moody, Tom Croft, Nick Easter, James Haskell and Tom Wood. There is no room for specialist open-side Hendre Fourie. England's 30-man Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards: D Cole (Leicester Tigers), A Corbisiero (London Irish), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), L Deacon (Leicester Tigers), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), J Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), L Mears (Bath Rugby), L Moody (Bath Rugby), T Palmer (Stade Francais), S Shaw (Unattached), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Stevens (Saracens), S Thompson (London Wasps), D Wilson (Bath Rugby), T Wood (Northampton Saints).
Backs: D Armitage (London Irish), C Ashton (Northampton Saints), M Banahan (Bath Rugby), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), T Flood (Leicester Tigers), B Foden (Northampton Saints), S Hape (London Irish), J Simpson (London Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), J Wilkinson (Toulon) B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).