England enter Six Nations with Johnson's 'best' squad

Healy, C. (3) Flannery, J. (35) Hayes, J. (98) O'Callaghan, D. (59) O'Connell, P. (66) McLaughlin, K. (1) Wallace, D. (58) Heaslip, J. (22) O'Leary, T. (12) O'Gara, R. (94) Trimble, A. (26) D'Arcy, G. (44) O'Driscoll, B. (97) Bowe, T. (26) Kearney, R. (20) 661 - 44.06

Ian, at the end of the match the starting XV will have this many caps: Tim Payne (16) Dylan Hartley (15) David Wilson (5) Simon Shaw (54) Steve Borthwick (54) {c} James Haskell (23) Lewis Moody (57) Nick Easter (28) Danny Care (15) Jonny Wilkinson (74) Ugo Monye (10) Riki Flutey (10) Matthew Tait (33) Mark Cueto (35) Delon Armitage (12) 451 caps, and on average 30.06.

8 different clubs, whereas Ireland's team will be made up of Munster and Leinster with a couple of add ons from Ulster and Ospreys (Tommy Bowe), Wales; Ospreys and Cardiff with add ons from Scarlets and Sale and Scotland from Glasgow and Edinburgh with a couple of add ons. It must impact on combinations with coaching problems on both defence and attack, hence MJ's issues with selection and the way forward. I wonder how many different clubs are in the French match day squad? I don't have the facts to hand but it would be interesting to compare the number of caps in each squad, I suspect Ireland will be close to 800, i won't guess Wales or Scotland but familiarity of playing together must have an impact. England if I recall will have only two players in the 50 cap region, Shaw and Moody, the majority are less than 20. To my mind indicative of the lack of consistency of selection in the past and the lack of time available to test more players before RWC2011.

Interesting that no club dominates the squad, let alone the starting 15: Leicester 1 (3 replacements) Quins 3 Irish 1 (2) Sale 2 Wasps 2 Saints 1 (1) Brive 1 (1) Saracens 1 Bath 1 Toulon 1 Stade 1 A fit Croft might have added a Leicester player but, arguably, a fit Lawes would have kept another (Deacon) out.

Pleased as a Quins fan that Care is playing, the 8/9 combination with Easter is key to fast ball. My concerns are that how will Wilko play? I hope he is more expansive as there is serious pace outside now that Tait is playing 13. The front five in particular Payne and Borthwick have serious question marks as to their international performances. Some in Oz might be interested to hear about current press speculation that Borthwick is being courted by the new Melbourne franchise as is Vickery (currently injured). With Croft being injured there may be lineout issues, although Easter is pretty effective.

England: D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Sale Sharks), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), S Armitage (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton). Reasonably happy with that! Tait is in!! finally after all these long years of Tindall, Noon and Hipkiss - an outside centre with pace!!! Cannot believe that deacon makes the bench ahead of Lawes, (unless as Rugby Fan states above he picked up a knock) hardly an impact substitute, and Adam Jones will probably destroy Tim Payne. i see Care in ahead of my man Paul Hodgson but, thank the lord, no Banahan or Hipkiss if Payne can hold is own, and he is going to be seriously pumped up after all the flak he has been getting, then I fancy Englands chances against the Welsh. The lineout will also be interesting.

England: D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Sale Sharks), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), S Armitage (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton). According to one report, Lawes picked up a knock which ruled him out of contention for the bench. Interested to see the make up of the replacements bench. If one of the winger's gets a knock early in the game, I hope Foden will go straight there even though he doesn't have much experience in the position. The alternative would be to move Tait to the wing, Armitage to the centre and play Foden at 15 but I'd rather see the other two get game time in their chosen positions. The first few scrums will be interesting. The Times rugby panel reckoned that referees are more reluctant to yellow card props in full internationals but the penalties still hurt.

I think quite a few players could step up without being totally outclassed, Ian: Wood, Dowson, Youngs, Waldouck and Strettle. I was impressed by Doran-Jones during the Argentina test, but he looked naive today, IMO. Attwood was invsible, and Saul and Goode didn't exert a great deal of influence either.

I think the Saxons v Ireland A game highlights the selection issue. Whereas the Saxons had a very small number of caps between and were largely experimental, the Irish team had over 200 caps and the core of the team was made up of very experienced players. Why probably because Ireland doesn't have the depth to introduce a side with as few caps as the Saxons. It doesn't help MJ with his future selection as how many of the Saxons will feature in the next game, and more importantly how many are ready to step up to the full squad? I was surprised that the Saxons won and the loss by the Irish probably has highlighted more future problems for Kidney, in that where are the new generation of players coming from, when the aging players retire. What is the pipeline? For the inexperienced Saxons team they showed some enterprise in the first half and excellent defence in the second half when under alot of pressure by the Irish, who monopolised possession in the second half. To have beaten such an experienced side would have given them alot of satisfaction.

Woodward's observation is probably correct but it has often been so for the England team. I still remember that incisive rugby commentator Terry Wogan talking about the lock Dave Cusani who got his one full cap against Ireland in 1987. Wogan observed that if Cusani had been Irish, he probably would have had a run of games and picked up enough experience to be a competent operator. For England, he got one chance and played in a team which lost 17-0. The cupboard wasn't exactly bare when Woodward left although Andy Robinson had to work out how to balance retaining experience with blooding new players. Generally speaking, he got it wrong and I'm sure he prefers the more limited selection options he has in Scotland which allow him to concentrate more on the parts of coaching at which he is undoubtedly good. The Viscount makes the important point that Woodward isn't arguing that players are obviously world class now but that there is enough talent around for someone to select a team which can be consistently competitive as they play together. We'll have a better idea whether Johnson is that man after this 6N. Even now, it's difficult to see who really has their position nailed down in the way that Johnson, Vickery, Back, Hill, Dallaglio, Wilkinson and Greenwood did. Easter and Delon Armitage probably do and Flutey is another possibility if he repeats the performance in last year's 6N. Aside from those names, most would pick Shaw but still be uncertain if he could make it all the way to the next World Cup. Perhaps Sheridan as well when he gets fit and Moody if he stays fit. Hartley looks like he might secure a first choice berth but he hasn't done so yet. Borthwick appears to be under review and, as for the other positions, it's still up in the air. Vickery can't be certain of his place, while there are a bunch of wingers, centres, half-backs and back row forwards all in the mix for the other places. None of them have been completely embarrassed at the top level but few have left an indelible mark on the matches they have played where you can say "I know what he will bring to every game". I would hope that England are still prepared to let players make mistakes and that's where we will really miss the lack of Heineken Cup games this season. It's a great platform for young players to learn about making decisions when everything is on the line. Only Lawes, Ashton. Haskell, Hartley & Foden will see action from the senior squad while Geraghty & Myler do so from the Saxons. Haskell must be very happy with his move to Stade at this stage. Balshaw & Erinle will see more Heineken game time at Biarritz than any other England players this year.

Barkley is still to come back and JTH (I don't like him either). I thought Dowson looked pretty good with the 7 jersey the other week. I doubt he'll be over the ball when playing at 8, but I'm sure he's a flanker more than an 8.

I think Cato's always been overrated, even in his U-20 days. Whilsts he shined at that level I always felt Miles Benjamin was the more intelligent winger. But most of the talk was about Cato. He hasn't improved much over the last two years either -possibly his defence. However, he was outplayed by a not particularly on form Cohen when he played Sale and was woefully exposed, positionally by Hodgson's tactical kicking. I like the balance of the Saxons back-row, but both Wood and Dowson are carriers, rather than someone who can secure ball regularly at the breakdown. I assume Robshaw is covering for Haskell? Fearns is the other back-row forward who does that job well. I think Barritt had a really good season last year, but has fallen off a bit this season. But who else os there?

'Of the English players, what kind of expectations would they have, and how likely are they to be met, with the much greater numbers of ‘talent’ available to Johnson.' The England team is a parallel of the Irish team: players who need to acquire match fitness, players who are genuine A players, and players who are genuine test understudies. A victory is vital, and then performance, IMO. I would imagine that performance is a slight irrelevance due to the erratic A team fixture list. England lack 1s, 8s and 13s, so Wood, Dowson and Waldouck have an opportunity to present their case.

'Who wants it more on the day, I suppose'. Different motivations and having your expectations met. Of the A side 22, a number of players are getting development time or are getting their only chance to pull on a green jersey - Muldoon, Carr, Duffy, Mathews and probably Dowling. Some are getting necessary game time either through absence from injury or not getting enough from their clubs/provinces - Best, Horan, Buckley, McFadden, O'Driscoll, Toner and others who need more experience or checking - Stringer, Wallace. O'Brien. A good chunk of them might have an opportunity to play in the 6N or tour in the Summer. Of the English players, what kind of expectations would they have, and how likely are they to be met, with the much greater numbers of 'talent' available to Johnson. Maybe having smaller numbers can sometimes be a boon - less people to keep happy and motivated.

I liked the look of Doran-Jones during his brief Autumn appearance, and Skivington reminds me of a younger Ben Kay (minus the lineout ability), but Attwood strikes me as an undersized 4 who has been chosen due to a lack of options (much like Tom Mercey - when will he actually start playing club rugby?). In contrast the Irish tight five is experienced (Horan: 66 caps; Best: 34; Buckley: 14; O'Driscoll: 17), however none of the front row have been playing regular rugby recently, and neither has Toner. Who wants it more on the day, I suppose. I like that Saull and Goode have been included, but I am yet to be convinced that Barritt isn't just a typical SA bosher, and that Cato can actually kick, pass and catch.

If the Saxons get any ball, they might do okay. But I'm not convinced by the tight five. As ever with English rugby, there are about five players with genuine claims to each position. Until England has chaps who rank head and shoulders above their competitors, you can forget international glory.

Nonsense. How does a player become world-class? By playing time and time again at the highest level. Few Englishmen are awarded that opportunity. The great problem for English rugby at the moment is not a lack of talent but a lack of talent playing at the very highest levels. For instance, Jonny Wilkinson has not played any Heineken Cup matches in about a decade. That tells you all you need to know. The GP really needs to sort out the ridiculous situation whereby Newport-Gwent Dragons players receive more exposure to the HC than the likes of Wilkinson, Cipriani, Shaw and Borthwick.

I dunno to be honest about when Wallace plays 10 again, if you assume the senior 22 is always going to contain O'Gara and Sexton. However, if one of them gets injured, you need to have someone else on the bench. And Wallace is the only one, and is out of practice in the position at test level. Otherwise, Humphs Jnr gets to have a lonely spot waiting for an injury to happen, cos he won't get on for any other position. Wilkinson is in the panel - and I thought he might have got a fillip this season since he's been playing his heart out in the West. I meant to say Tuohy - former Glaws playes and was a real tyro for the northern boys in their last couple of games - like the look of him. Very difficult to see Carr play - Setanta don't cover all their matches, and there's no clips on you Tube that I can ever find.

Wolfhounds it is: http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_19522.php

When is Wallace going to get the chance to play 10 again? I sort of see the logic, but not completely. Is Brett Wilkinson not in the reckoning? Gosh, Bernard Jackman was doing the rounds when Ireland toured SA under Paddy Johns. Caldwell - Tuohy or the Australian O'Donoghue? Never heard of Fionn Carr. Must be that English arrogance. I'll check him out.