Eurosport - Wed, 19 Nov 07:43:00 2008
England manager Martin Johnson has recalled blind-side flanker James Haskell for the showdown with world champions South Africa at Twickenham.
Haskell's inclusion in place of Tom Croft is the only change on Saturday to England's starting XV from last weekend's 28-14 defeat to Australia.
Croft is included among the replacements and is joined on the bench by uncapped Leicester number eight Jordan Crane, who has replaced Michael Lipman in the squad.
Otherwise, Johnson has kept faith with the tight five that struggled to impose themselves against the Wallabies and named the same back division for a third week running.
Haskell was one of the few England players to return from the summer tour of New Zealand with his reputation enhanced after two impressive performances against the All Blacks.
He lost his place to Croft, after making a slow start to the season in a struggling Wasps side.
But Haskell made an immediate impression when he came off the bench last weekend and he will offer a more physical presence against the dynamic Springbok back row.
Johnson admits he was tempted to make more changes but is trying to build a new team and decided to give his inexperienced players the chance to make amends for last week.
England conceded "careless" penalties and failed to capitalise on the opportunities they did create against the Wallabies.
"It's great we can choose between two very young and exciting players in James and Tom," said Johnson. "We want to get some consistency in the team. They are aware of the mistakes we made - but they have the opportunity to correct them.
"The art for the coaches is making the most of a short space to time to make a significant impact.
"You can't change a player overnight, and wouldn't want to a huge amount because you select them for what they can do, so it is more a question of getting everyone to understand what we are trying to do and then execute.
"We want to get some consistency in the team. They are aware of the mistakes we made but they have the opportunity to correct them."
Johnson said that after watching the Australia game again he felt England had suffered from their decision-making.
"As a team we have to become a bit smarter on the field," he said. "It's a new team, that's not an excuse, but we have to function better together.
"Some of the players' instincts have to be what we're doing, not maybe what they do in their club side.
"It's a bit about trusting the system and a bit of getting used to the pace and ferocity of test rugby. We had the potential to create two or three good try scoring situations last week but we have got to make good decisions.
"Australia did some smart things to put us under pressure; it was a harsher spotlight."
Looking ahead to Saturday's clash Johnson said he expected the Springboks to "keep the scrum up" after the mess of the last two weeks at Twickenham and said his side would have to improve at the lineout.
"They probably have the best lineout in the world at the moment and that's the challenge," he said. "They've also got some fantastic athletes in the back row but so have we and we have to take them on.
"Some things aren't optional -- you have to front up."
England team: 15-Delon Armitage, 14-Paul Sackey, 13- Jamie Noon, 12-Riki Flutey, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Danny Cipriani, 9-Danny Care, 1-Andrew Sheridan, 2-Lee Mears, 3-Phil Vickery, 4-Steve Borthwick, 5-Tom Palmer, 6-James Haskell, 7-Tom Rees, 8-Nick Easter
Replacements: 16-Dylan Hartley, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Simon Shaw, 19-Tom Croft, 20-Jordan Crane, 21-Harry Ellis, 22-Toby Flood
Comment 1 - 13 of 13
johnnywns you are an idiot. stfu colors mean a lot
Lord Kitchener invented the concentration camp during the Boer war!!
Make the whole Springbok rugby team black!
Then they will complain the tea-towels are too white!
Kmaan die bokke!!!!!!!!!!
I love England rugby aswell,one of their best sports teams!!
If you write,
White and black,somehow eurosport thinks that white and black is offensive.
How can colours be offensive?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??
Well do it, come on England, new manager(remember the best captian ever) just give it a little time, look out world rugby here we come, we'll be champions again very soon.
England has a chance because the boks are as good as achunkyjones's brain :-) What happened to the boks shows that colour of the skin can only bring disruption. How could that idiot be the box's coach? No idea.
to achunkyjones. u obviously a tartie footballer. try a proper game where people are allowed within 5 meters of you and you dont fall over.
kick and chase-what a bore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
roll around in the mud and sing about it afterwards!!!!!!!!!!!
punch someone when their on the ground and cant defend themselves!!!!!!!!
play with an egg shape ball!!!!!!!!!!
England by 20
- disgruntled Bok fan
Martin ,donot forget the basics when we need certain ball in the line throw to no2
and make the scrum half take on the bad ball not throw it away
best of luck Craig
If it's the right Boks that will turn up then England stand no chance. However, if it is the unstructured, 'off the cuff play' Boks that turn up, then the Poms stand a good chance. GO BOKKE!!!
Go England!! I know you do it against the springboks.
Harry Ellis is great and should not be on the bench xx
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