England are set to field an especially raw side against Australia this weekend despite the return to Test duty of World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.
Manager Martin Johnson released 10 players from his squad on Tuesday, leaving him with 22. However, the 2003 World Cup-winning captain is not due to name his starting XV and seven-man replacements bench until Wednesday.
Although the experienced trio of Wilkinson, Lewis Moody and captain Steve Borthwick are among the players retained, the average number of caps per man is 18 and several possible starters for Saturday’s Cook Cup clash at Twickenham have yet to get out of single figures.
Injuries have left England without nearly two teams’ worth of players, including several first-choices, including a British and Irish Lions front row, and Johnson delayed Tuesday’s scheduled team announcement by 24 hours to give Northampton’s New Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley more time to recover from a hamstring problem.
But the likely look of Johnson’s side for England’s first November international became clearer when utility backs Ben Foden and Mathew Tait were among those released back to their clubs ahead of this weekend’s Anglo-Welsh Cup ties along with World Cup winning lock Ben Kay and experienced Wasps back-row Joe Worsley.
Foden and Tait’s temporary release – England are due to re-assemble their 32-man squad Sunday ahead of Twickenham encounters against both Argentina and New Zealand – indicated that Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto will form the back three against the Wallabies, with Dan Hipkiss in midfield.
However, the uncapped Ayoola Erinle – now playing for French club Biarritz – could force his way into a centre berth.
England’s injury problems and a desire not to have too many novice combinations across the field may well lead Johnson to seek as much continuity as he can in key areas.
As a result, England could field a back-row entirely made up of players from Leicester, Johnson’s old club, and the same tight five that played against Argentina in June.
But in form Stade Francais loose forward James Haskell will be pushing hard for a place in the run-on team.
As for the locks, Louis Deacon appears likely to partner skipper Borthwick with Northampton’s uncapped Courtney Lawes having to content himself with a place on the bench.
Up front, should Hartley be fit he is set to scrum down alongside Bath tighthead prop David Wilson and Wasps loosehead Tim Payne.
England 22 for the Cook Cup international against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday:
(Backs) Matt Banahan, Danny Care, Mark Cueto, Ayoola Erinle, Shane Geraghty, Andy Goode, Danny Hipkiss, Paul Hodgson, Ugo Monye, Jonny Wilkinson. (Forwards) Duncan Bell, Steve Borthwick (capt), Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Moody, Tim Payne, Steve Thompson, David Wilson
Knives Out
Guest
I like the cut of that guy's gib. Tah Man has 'X Factor' as far as I'm concerned. I'm all for him, despite the fact his RugbyHeaven Super 14 predictions are nearly always wrong.
Pete
Guest
too funny, and I'm a Wallaby supporter... do we dare introduce you to Tah Man?
Daniel King
Guest
Australians are obsessed with silly nicknames for their sporting teams, Olyroos.....WTF! Socceroos! Diamonds (netball), Kookaburras (Hockey), Matildas (Womens football i think), Wallabies, Kangaroos, i can tolerate this history but the others are just marketing ploys. JUST CALL YOURSELVES AUSTRALIA!
TommyM
Guest
You do keep me entertained KO.
Knives Out
Guest
The Springbok is a graceful animal, as is the Lion. The Wallaby is not. It is plain silly and I shall have nothing to do with it.
CraigB
Roar Guru
KO - I am intrigued how the Wallaby is any different to the Springbok? Please explain how an Australian animal being used as a mascot is any more childish than a SA one? Or are you ignorant to the fact that a Wallaby is real???? Shall we look at the Lions as childish also or are they OK because they are 'scary'?
Knives Out
Guest
Erm.. I think you need to google what that phrase actually means. No. I wouldn't want to be childish, which is why it is fine to use the term 'All Blacks' or 'Springboks'. Neither term refers to a small, fat cartoon animal. A grown man calling a rugby team 'The Wallabies' is ludicrous. Why not shorten the name and add a few more vowels?
CraigB
Roar Guru
"the average SH fan exists on a staple diet of dislike, ignorance and stereotype when it comes to European rugby." - no chip there then... Telll me do you refer to NZ as the All Blacks or South Africa as the Springboks?? I mean you wouldn't want to be childish would you.
Knives Out
Guest
Every time I see that unpleasant, angry little shoulder chip I cringe. I keep forgetting what vast class issues exist in Australia. It's just such a foreign concept to me. Regardless, I'm sure you can forgive my presumption given that the average SH fan exists on a staple diet of dislike, ignorance and stereotype when it comes to European rugby. Btw, no European rugby fan would refer to the Australian team as the Wallabies. What are we? Children?
CraigB
Roar Guru
its interesting that you assume he's a SH roarer. Its also interesting to assume that we cannot seem to have an opinion on english rugby or players. Ah it must be nice to be born to rule...
Knives Out
Guest
An interesting fact here: last season when England played Australia the average amount of caps per English player (starting xv only)was 18.4 (277 caps in the starting XV). This year the figure is 22.53 (339 caps in the starting XV).
Derm
Roar Guru
Psst, Rasputin. Warning: when KO says 'nice' he really means 'highly unusual and very suspect'. It's that perverse English thing in trying to be polite all the time.
Knives Out
Guest
That's an interesting perspective. You know a lot about the English tight five? It's nice to meet a SH Roarer with a deep knowledge of the English game.
CraigB
Roar Guru
Spot on Pothale the English Rose by PLENTY!
Conor
Guest
Agreed, we've struggled against an awesome South Africa and New Zealand, but that was South Africa and New Zealand. England wouldn't have done any better against them in my opinion, and i will be really suprised if this england team will beat us. thats me but
Rah Rah Rasputin
Guest
you're kidding, right? Australia will struggle at the lineout but will be stronger then England at the ruck and in the scrum. Coming of a tough loss to the ABs the wallabies will be raring to go. I'm still not impressed by Johnson as a coach. Wallabies by 20 points!
Derm
Roar Guru
With that line-up Australia should be knocked for six easily. English youth and pace against the SH bottom-rung team of misfits. Sunday's headlines are going to be screaming.