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Englands summer tour preview
by Phil Batchelor
England travel to SA this summer hoping for their first Test victory in that country since 2000, when a certain J Wilkinson kicked them to glory in Bloemfontein.
There are many differences between those two sides though, not least of which being that the age of the current squad members is far lower and so is the collective experience.
One win from the three full internationals would be a good return for Stuart Lancaster’s men and off the back of a surprise 6N’s second place a lot of the fans will quietly hope for more. Victory by a large margin in both of the mid-week barbarian games is demanded as well, the cobbled together sides should not pose too much of a problem for the tour squads dirt trackers as they look to work their way in to the Test XXII.
Of course all of this will take place without a number of quality players for England who find themselves enjoying a summer holiday and pre-season with their clubs after picking up injuries in the marathon which is the domestic leagues.
Out of the tour so far are: Rob Webber the second choice hooker behind Hartley, Tom Croft our first choice 6 who had a brilliant 6N’s, Matt Stevens our utility prop although his injury may strengthen the team, Joe Launchberry a young and impressive Lock/flanker who may have been in the mid-week team, Courtney Lawes the wrecking ball lock who is semi first choice.
Then we are also missing Callum Clarke due to suspension after his horrific assault during the LV Cup final. Players in the EPS but not considered for the tour due to injury are Chris Brooker, Stuart Hooper, Louis Deacon, Charlie Sharples, Joe Simpson , Henry Thomas, David Wilson, Tom Wood and Nick Wood.
There are many differences between those two sides though, not least of which being that the age of the current squad members is far lower and so is the collective experience.
One win from the three full internationals would be a good return for Stuart Lancaster’s men and off the back of a surprise 6N’s second place a lot of the fans will quietly hope for more. Victory by a large margin in both of the mid-week barbarian games is demanded as well, the cobbled together sides should not pose too much of a problem for the tour squads dirt trackers as they look to work their way in to the Test XXII.
Of course all of this will take place without a number of quality players for England who find themselves enjoying a summer holiday and pre-season with their clubs after picking up injuries in the marathon which is the domestic leagues.
Out of the tour so far are: Rob Webber the second choice hooker behind Hartley, Tom Croft our first choice 6 who had a brilliant 6N’s, Matt Stevens our utility prop although his injury may strengthen the team, Joe Launchberry a young and impressive Lock/flanker who may have been in the mid-week team, Courtney Lawes the wrecking ball lock who is semi first choice.
Then we are also missing Callum Clarke due to suspension after his horrific assault during the LV Cup final. Players in the EPS but not considered for the tour due to injury are Chris Brooker, Stuart Hooper, Louis Deacon, Charlie Sharples, Joe Simpson , Henry Thomas, David Wilson, Tom Wood and Nick Wood.
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England’s Summer Tour Squad to South Africa
Coaches: Stuart Lancaster (Head coach, Defence) Graham Rowntree (Forwards coach, Scrum) Mike Catt (Backs coach, Attack) Props: D Cole (Leicester Tigers), A Corbisiero (London Irish), P Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), R Harden (Gloucester). Hookers: J Gray (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), L Mears (Bath Rugby), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers) Locks: M Botha (Saracens), G Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), T Palmer (Stade Francais), G Parling (Leicester Tigers), G Robson (Harlequins) Loose Forwards: P Dowson (Northampton Saints), C Fearns (Bath Rugby), J Gibson (London Irish), J Haskell (Otago Highlanders), T Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), B Morgan (Gloucester),C Robshaw (capt, Harlequins), T Waldrom (Leicester Tigers) |
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Scrum-halfs: D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton Saints), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Fly-Halfs: O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester Tigers), C Hodgson (Saracens)
Centres: A Allen (Leicester Tigers), B Barritt (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), G Lowe (Harlequins), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Wingers: C Ashton (Northampton Saints), U Monye (Harlequins), D Strettle (Saracens), C Wade (London Wasps)
Full Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), B Foden (Northampton Saints), A Goode (Saracens)
Players not considered due to injury or suspension: Chris Brooker (knee),Stuart Hooper (arm), Calum Clark (suspended), Tom Croft (neck), Louis Deacon (hamstring), Courtney Lawes (shin), Charlie
Fly-Halfs: O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester Tigers), C Hodgson (Saracens)
Centres: A Allen (Leicester Tigers), B Barritt (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), G Lowe (Harlequins), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Wingers: C Ashton (Northampton Saints), U Monye (Harlequins), D Strettle (Saracens), C Wade (London Wasps)
Full Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), B Foden (Northampton Saints), A Goode (Saracens)
Players not considered due to injury or suspension: Chris Brooker (knee),Stuart Hooper (arm), Calum Clark (suspended), Tom Croft (neck), Louis Deacon (hamstring), Courtney Lawes (shin), Charlie
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Starting XV for the 1st Test:
1. Cole 2. Hartley 3. Corbisiero 4. Botha 5. Parling 6. Johnson 7. Robshaw 8. Morgan 9. Youngs 10. Flood 11. Strettle 12. Barritt 13. Tuilagi 14. Ashton 15. Foden |
Key Players
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Chris Robshaw - Now full time captain after standing in for the 6N’s; Robshaw showed just what he can do in the Prem final where he never stopped for the full 80 as he lead Harlequins to their first title. His engine is just phenomenal and he carries, rucks, tackles and leads consistently. With 100% commitment all game, likened to Neil Back he is happy to do everything so that others in the backrow can do the flash stuff. Absolutely essential for this new look England team.
Dan Cole - It is widely recognised that SA will look to bully England up front and in the scrum especially during the Tests. Cole will be key to stopping that and in helping England set a platform for the exciting backs to play some rugby. He had a very good 6N’s which was capped off in style by destroying the Irish scrum at Twickenham in the final match of that tournament.
Toby Flood - Farrel and Hodgson both look like poor Test 10’s and both have glaring deficiencies in their games. Flood is a proven international 10, has a solid all round game and gives our backline it’s best cutting edge of the last decade. Combining with Youngs we’ve seen the havoc that these two can wreak. Flood for me has to start if fit and I hope he is or the Tests will be a lot tougher.
Chris Ashton - If the first three key players on this list can find their mojo’s then having a player like Ashton out on the wing will be deadly. He looked like he’d re-found his love of rugby in the Baabaa’s game and if that continues we could see him breaking some more records for England.
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Prospects
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Joe Marler - After a season which has seen him go from being viewed as a weak scrummager to one of the best in the league Marler must me banging on the door for the bench spot in the Test team. A wrecking ball in the loose and a surprisingly skilled technical scrummager he has a huge future ahead when he gets his chance. Jonathan Joseph - The London Irish 13 has put on some incredible displays this season for his club, blessed with impressive wheels and a precision step he also has masses of composure on the ball but there could be question marks over his defence. Christian Wade - Already the comparisons with Jason Robinson are being used by pundits and to be fair they could be entirely true. Wade looks like the magic maker that England has often lacked on the wing. Easily able to create something from nothing and with impressive defensive skills if he gets his chance you can bet he’ll take it. |
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