Raw England await touring Aussies
Martin Johnson will name one of the most inexperienced England teams in memory to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday – and that is despite the return of Jonny Wilkinson.
England’s likely starting XV to tackle the Wallabies contains 11 players with 13 caps or less, five of whom can count their international appearances on the fingers of one hand.
Even with veteran campaigners Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody and Steve Borthwick in the team, the average number of caps per man is a paltry 18.
Johnson’s plans for the autumn Investec Challenge Series have been ravaged by injuries and his team announcement was delayed until tomorrow to give Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley every chance of recovering from a hamstring strain.
But England’s plans for the Wallabies became much clearer this evening when it was confirmed that Ben Kay, Nick Kennedy, Ben Foden and Mathew Tait were among 10 players returning to their clubs.
The departures of Foden and Tait provide confirmation that Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto will start in the back three, with Shane Geraghty and Dan Hipkiss in midfield.
Uncapped Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle is a surprise inclusion in the 22-man squad and is set to provide powerful midfield back-up from the bench.
As a result of England’s injury crisis, Johnson is seeking stability and continuity anywhere he can find it – and that is by naming the same tight five that faced Argentina in June and, possibly, an all-Leicester back row.
Leicester’s Louis Deacon is set to keep his second-row place alongside captain Steve Borthwick, with uncapped Northampton lock Courtenay Lawes on the bench.
Moody and Lions flanker Tom Croft are guaranteed starters in the back row, with Johnson to choose between their Tigers colleague Jordan Crane and in-form Stade Francais loose-forward James Haskell.
Initial indications were that Hartley would be fit to start in the front row alongside loosehead Tim Payne and, probably, David Wilson, the promising Bath tighthead prop.
England's 22-man squad to play Australia in Saturday's Investec Challenge at Twickenham:
Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath).
Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).
