Let’s reflect on the revised England squad:
Forwards: Tim Payne (Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Matt Stevens (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), George Chuter (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Lee Mears (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tom Rees (Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).
Backs: Delon Armitage (London Irish), Olly Morgan (Gloucester), Mathew Tait (Sale), Mark Cueto (Sale), Paul Sackey (Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Shane Geraghty (London Irish), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Toby Flood (Leicester), Danny Care (Harlequins), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton).
First of all, Johnno’s hands were tied.
From the agreement at the start of the season and the initial squad, injuries aside, Johnno could make five changes.
What a ridiculous importance that places on the first squad of the season.
But, but, but, let’s face it – the squad has an out of form look about it.
Forgetting about positions, if you were to pick on form, you’d play three full-backs (or at least men currently playing full-back for their clubs) – Morgan, Foden & Cueto.
But, surely you couldn’t drop man-of-the-autumn Delon Armitage. So that’s four full-backs then.
And then, none of the forwards makes a compelling case on current club form.
So… that’s four full-backs and no forwards.
So, picking on form, we have to accomodate four full-backs, Mike Tindall, and Shane Geraghty.
And no forwards.
Terrific.
And Twickenham tickets – what a bargain.
So, Tindall plays inside which doesn’t tend to suit him. One full-back steps up to outside centre and two go to the wing – Foden says he’s a scrum-half but the Sale and Northampton side selector’s disagree. Fair enough, let’s say he’s not a wing but most of the back three should be interchangeable.
Ummm,
15. Foden
14. Morgan
13. Armitage
12. Tindall
11. Cueto
10. Geraghty
9. Care
And 1-8 are trading on past reputations.
And a prop in the squad picked as a centre, consistently.
Not exactly reassuring.
Plus Jon Clarke of Northampton should have been in the squad.