Martin Johnson names his squads
New England manager Martin Johnson has dropped fellow World Cup winners Mike Tindall, Ben Kay and Joe Worsley from his first England elite player squad. The trio are among 12 players – others including Dave Strettle and Nick Easter – to be demoted to the Saxons squad.
Charlie Hodgson is dropped altogether, while there are recalls for Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel among others. New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey, who becomes eligible for England in September, is included.
The only specialist number 10 in the elite party is Jonny Wilkinson, although Olly Barkley, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty all provide cover from inside centre. Whilst Danny Cipriani, who is not expected to play again until November after a serious ankle injury, is in the Saxons squad.
Elite squad:
Forwards: Tim Payne (Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Matt Stevens (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), George Chuter (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Lee Mears (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tom Rees (Wasps), Jordan Crane (Leicester), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).
Backs: Josh Lewsey (Wasps), Mathew Tait (Sale), Paul Sackey (Wasps), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Tom Varndell (Leicester), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Olly Barkley (Gloucester), Toby Flood (Leicester), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Shane Geraghty (London Irish), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Danny Care (Harlequins), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Pete Richards (London Irish).
Saxons squad:
Forwards: Jack Forster (Gloucester), Jason Hobson (Bristol), David Wilson (Newcastle), Nick Wood (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Andy Titterrell (Gloucester), Joe Ward (Wasps), Richard Blaze (Leicester), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Chris Jones (Sale), Ben Kay (Leicester), George Skivington (Wasps), Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Michael Lipman (Bath), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Joe Worsley (Wasps).
Backs: Nick Abendanon (Bath), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Matt Banahan (Bath), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Dominic Waldouck (Wasps), Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Andy Goode (Leicester), Ryan Lamb (Gloucester), Ben Foden (Northampton), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale).
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