Internationals - England decide on match squad

Eurosport - Tue, 03 Nov 18:05:00 2009

England boss Martin Johnson has effectively named his match-day squad for Saturday's Test with Australia after releasing 10 players back to their clubs.

Martin Johnson - England - 0

Johnson (pictured) has retained a squad of 22 for the clash at Twickenham and will name his starting XV at midday on Wednesday after delaying the announcement by one day due a spate on injuries to potential England players.

The biggest clues to Johnson's starting XV come with the release of London Irish open-side flanker Steffon Armitage and Northampton full-back Ben Foden, which suggests Johnson will go with Lewis Moody at number seven and either Mark Cueto or Ugo Monye at 15.

Also released are second row pair Nick Kennedy of London Irish and Leicester's Ben Kay, a strong indication that 20-year-old Northampton prospect Courtney Lawes will be named in the match-day 22 at least, if not the starting XV.

Other squad members not required for the first of three autumn Tests are Bath prop David Barnes, Leicester hooker George Chuter, Harlequins wing David Strettle, back Matthew Tait and Sale team-mate and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, and Wasps veteran flanker Joe Worsley.

Chuter's return to Leicester leaves Johnson with Dylan Hartley, declared fit after a hamstring scare, and Steve Thompson for the hooking duties, while Strettle's departure indicates that Johnson will go with a back three of Cueto, Monye and Matt Banahan.

Danny Care and Paul Hodgson will cover the scrum-half role after Wigglesworth's return to Manchester, and will form a half-back partnership with World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, with Andy Goode providing back-up for the fly-half role.

Either Lawes or Louis Deacon will pack down with skipper Steve Borthwick in the second row, and the back row is likely to see Tom Croft start at blind-side flanker, Moody at seven and either James Haskell or Jordan Crane at number eight.

If Johnson goes with Crane then all three players in the back row will be from his former club Leicester.

After the Wallabies game England face Argentina on November 14 and the All Blacks, also at Twickenham, a week later.

Possible England XV v Australia:

15-Mark Cueto, 14-Matt Banahan, 13-Dan Hipkiss, 12-Shane Geraghty, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Paul Hodgson; 8-James Haskell, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-Tom Croft, 5-Steve Borthwick (capt), 4-Louis Deacon, 3-David Wilson, 2-Dylan Hartley, 1-Tim Payne.

Replacements: Courtney Lawes, Danny Care, Ayoola Erinle, Andy Goode, Duncan Bell, Jordan Crane, Seve Thompson.

Terence O'RORKE / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. WHY Andy Goode. Even an U16 footballer could do better.

    From Peter, on Thu 5 Nov 12:27PM

  2. I am totally lost also..!! FODEN HAS to be a MUST in­ the squad !! Johnson is going backwards yet again.
    and­ Paul Hodgson thinks a tackle is what you get at the end­ of a fishing line...
    3 guesses where The Aussies are­ going to be running the ball
    And Andy Goode !!!!! Oh­ pleeeease no.

    From Ricardo, on Wed 4 Nov 3:38AM

  3. must sign for leicester get a club tie get picked for­ england

    From skinnyhoskins, on Tue 3 Nov 10:18PM

  4. typical johnson selection, he only chooses his mates­­ first . he has no understanding of the amount of good­­ players there are in the premiership and elsewhere. i­­ cant understand why nick kennedy isnt starting he has­­ selected 3 scrum halves for some strange reason when­ he­ could have selected a recognised fullback. this­ will be­ the same autumn results as last year as­ johnson doesnt­ have a clue. i really hope i am proved­ wrong and we at­ least win 2 games but i cant see it­ with his direction.­ what i can see is that england­ will play thru the­ forwards and wont use the backs­ except to kick the ball­ away. Oi Johnson the game has­ moved forward from­ 2002/2003 the best teams use the­ backs aswell.

    From Iain, on Tue 3 Nov 10:00PM

  5. when andy goode is havin a good day his very good for­ me! but looks like his having bad day everyday lately­ =/

    From ray, on Tue 3 Nov 9:45PM

  6. My Starting XV for England vs. Australia (check full 22­ squad on BBC Sport)

    15. M. Cueto
    14. U. Monye
    13. A.­ Erinle
    12. D. Hipkiss
    11. M. Banahan
    10. J.­ Wilkinson
    9. P. Hodgson
    8. J. Haskell
    7. L. Moody
    6.­ T. Croft
    5. S. Borthwick(should be Kennedy but have­ to keep Borthwick in because he is Captain)
    4. C.­ Lawes
    3. D. Wilson
    2. D. Hartley
    1. T. Payne

    16. D.­ Bell
    17. S. Thompson
    18. L. Deacon
    19. J. Crane
    20. D.­ Care
    21. S. Geraghty
    22. A. Goode (why is he on the­ squadlist???)

    From Cameron, on Tue 3 Nov 9:38PM

  7. Martin Johnson - Get rid of the IMBOSILE that is Andy­ f****** Goode. He is absolutely shocking and should sta­ in France until he retires and not be allowed to leave.

    From Cameron, on Tue 3 Nov 9:31PM

  8. What????? does he know what he is doing???? Foden was­ to wear the number 15 jersey for sure.....he is the­ only full back in the squad.... and steffon­ armitage???? Martin johnson in out of his mind

    From Samendra, on Tue 3 Nov 8:50PM

  9. why has worsley been left out?

    From chazadoza, on Tue 3 Nov 8:40PM

  10. Kennedy is too similar to Borthwick. Granted he should­ be in the team instead of Borthwick but since Johnson­ is bafflingly committed to his captain, Kennedy suffers­ the consequence.
    Moody outplayed Armitage in the recent­ Leicester/London Irish match so i think that resolved­ that selection issue.
    Foden is a puzzle, agree with­ Moggie that he is the only player in the squad who can­ claim to have any recent regular experience in the­ fullback position and anyone who watches him regularly­ can see the damage he does. I've not felt he is­ defensively weak or poor under a high ball so what­ Johnson thinks he is lacking is beyond me - a Leicester­ shirt maybe, certainly goes some way to explaining­ Deacon's inclusion.

    From D R, on Tue 3 Nov 7:54PM

  11. Steffon Armitage (best 7 in Prem), Nick Kennedy (top 5­ locks in Prem), David Strettle (fit at last, dangerous)­ and Ben Foden (only ACTUAL fullback in squad) all sent­ back to clubs......?
    I really dont understand Johnsons­ thought process....
    Maybe someone could explain why­ each of these players are not required for the game?­ Because I am at a TOTAL loss to be perfectly honest

    From moggie2727, on Tue 3 Nov 6:58PM

  12. I cant understand why Nick Kennedy has not been­ included, Louis Deacon is a passenger I have never seen­ him shine in any game I have seen him play in.

    From DAVID, on Tue 3 Nov 6:55PM
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