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England rugby squad shake up for 6 Nations

11th January, 2012
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11th January, 2012
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England coach Stuart Lancaster left out former captain Mike Tindall and picked nine uncapped players on Wednesday in a rejuvenated 32-man squad for rugby’s Six Nations.

With Jonny Wilkinson among those to have retired from international rugby since England’s poor World Cup campaign, Lancaster drafted in young Saracens flyhalf Owen Farrell in a group showing 15 changes to the last elite squad picked in August.

Lancaster also called up Brad Barritt, Lee Dickson, Calum Clark, Ben Morgan, Jordan Turner-Hall, Phil Dowson, Joe Marler and Rob Webber in an inexperienced squad.

The RFU announced the squad with the 20-year-old Farrell referred to as a centre, hinting he could start England’s February 4 opener in Scotland in midfield because of a lack of options in the position.

Manu Tuilagi is in the squad but injured, ex-skipper Tindall and Shontayne Hape have been dropped, while Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby fly half Danny Cipriani also missed selection.

With first-choice No.10 Toby Flood injured, Charlie Hodgson has been recalled and could be in line for his first appearance since the World Cup warmups against Wales.

Lancaster has yet to pick a captain.

Fullback Delon Armitage, one of the successes of Martin Johnson’s tenure as team manager, was dropped to the second-tier Saxons squad.

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Forwards: Mouritz Botha, Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Lee Mears, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Tom Wood.

Backs: Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Ben Foden, Charlie Hodgson, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs.

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