England bolters to face Baa-baas
Mon, 19 May 2008 19:48
Players pressing for places in England's first team on the two-Test tour of New Zealand will look to bolster their cause after being named on Monday in a training squad for next month's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
The squad for the June 1 non-cap international deliberately doesn't feature any players from English giants Leicester and Wasps, who will contest the Premiership Final 24 hours before the Barbarians match.
Wing Paul Sackey and back row forward James Haskell (Wasps) were omitted as was Leicester lock Ben Kay.
Equally, there are no representatives from either European Challenge Cup finalists Bath and Worcester, who meet on Sunday, which meant England tour captain Steve Borthwick (Bath) was left out.
However, the squad does include 13 capped internationals with the experienced Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood providing the flyhalf options.
But there was no place for Gloucester No.10 Ryan Lamb, due to find out on Tuesday if he will be promoted from the reserve England Saxons to replace the injured Danny Cipriani in New Zealand.
Rob Andrew, England's tour manager in New Zealand, said on Monday: "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.
"We have made one change to the Saxons squad. Alex Brown (Gloucester Rugby) has a neck injury so we have brought in Stuart Hooper (Leeds Carnegie) who will travel to the Barclays Churchill Cup and be in contention for selection for the Barbarians match.
"I hope that the fans will give England a big send off on June 1.
"It's the last time they will see them at Twickenham this season before we head for the two Test tour in New Zealand and their support on the day will be very much appreciated."
England's matchday 22 to play the Barbarians will be announced on Wednesday, May 28.
World Cup finalists England are due to play two Tests in New Zealand, with the first at Eden Park, Auckland on June 14 before they meet the All Blacks again on June 21 at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.
England training squad for Barbarians match:
Forwards:
Alex Clarke (Bristol Rugby), *Nick Easter (Harlequins), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Jason Hobson (Bristol Rugby), Stuart Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), *Chris Jones (Sale Sharks), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Nick Lloyd (Saracens), *Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), David Paice (London Irish), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Will
Skinner (Harlequins), David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs:
*Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby), *Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), *Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), *Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), *Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), *Pete Richards (London Irish), *David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), *Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), *Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks).
*Denotes capped player.
