The England coach Stuart Lancaster has unveiled a new-look 32-man squad for the Six Nations, featuring nine uncapped players, and 13 changes from the failed World Cup campaign.
Owen Farrell and his Saracens team-mate Brad Barritt both receive their first senior call-ups, along with the Northampton scrum-half Lee Dickson and the Harlequins centre Jordan Turner-Hall.
Northampton provide a quarter of the squad with the uncapped loose-forwards Phil Dowson and Calum Clark taking the Saints contingent to eight. The Harlequins prop Joe Marler and the Wasps hooker Rob Webber are both included along with Ben Morgan, the Scarlets number eight who pledged his allegiance to England after turning down an approach from Wales.
Mouritz Botha, Charlie Sharples, Chris Robshaw and Joe Simpson will all be looking to add to the single cap they won under Martin Johnson’s regime.
Toby Flood is the most experienced member of the squad with 46 caps, although he is set to miss the start of the Six Nations with a knee ligament injury.
Lancaster, England’s interim head coach, turned to a new generation after omitting the senior players Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto. Delon Armitage and Matt Banahan have both been relegated to the England Saxons squad and there is no place in either squad for Shontayne Hape.
Lewis Moody, Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Thompson have all retired, while Simon Shaw and James Haskell are ineligible for selection under Rugby Football Union rules after signing for overseas clubs. That restriction does not apply to Morgan or Tom Palmer because their respective contracts with the Scarlets and Stade Francais pre-date the RFU’s directive.
Lancaster said: “In line with the selection philosophy about starting new era for English rugby, we have taken the chance to make changes and give players opportunities to be part of the journey towards [the Rugby World Cup in] 2015. We have lost some great players who have worn the England shirt with pride and distinction – Lewis, Steve and Jonny – and we should thank them for all they did.
“Others haven’t been selected and I have met them and explained the reasons why as we look for the next player to step up in that position to take us forward.”
The Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care had been in line for a recall after missing the World Cup through injury but he has been suspended for the tournament following his arrest on suspicion of drink driving.
Andrew Sheridan and Richard Wigglesworth were not considered due to long-term injury and Lancaster has already had to make some temporary changes to his squad.
The Bath lock Dave Attwood, the Saracens full-back Alex Goode, the Leicester second row Geoff Parling and the Gloucester centre Henry Trinder will join the elite squad as temporary replacements for Flood, Courtney Lawes, Louis Deacon and Manu Tuilagi, who are all set to miss the start of the Six Nations.
Lancaster will name his captain at the end of England’s pre-Six Nations training week, which begins on 23 January at West Park Leeds rugby club. England open the defence of their title against Scotland at Murrayfield on 4 February 4.
England squad for Six Nations
Forwards (18) Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Rob Webber (London Wasps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Backs (14) Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), David Strettle (Saracens), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
The Guardian
Tags: Ben Morgan, Calum Clark, Joe Marler, Rob Webber