You are in > manchester.com  > News > Ashton zeroes in on final 30

Rugby Union

Ashton zeroes in on final 30

31/07/2007

England coach Brain Ashton admits that the make-up of his 30-man World Cup squad is nearly complete as he prepares his players for a warm-up clash against Wales.

A deadline of August 14th is in place for hopefuls to win over the former Bath coach with Saturday's match against the Dragons followed by an encounter with France next week.

"I'd like to think that all 15 who are playing this week are good enough to go to the World Cup. I'd like to think so, obviously. But whether that is going to be the case or not, we don't know," Ashton told Sky Sports.

"There are still one or two [to think about]. I've got a pretty good idea of the majority of the 30 players that I want to take to France. But there are still one or two areas that I don't know about and obviously the next two weeks will decide those."

His words may act as encouragement for the experimental centre partnership of debutant Dan Hipkiss and league convert Andy Farrell who could be just one solid performance away from booking their places on the trip to France.

Ashton has already trimmed down his provisional group of 46 players by dropping flanker Magnus Lund, full-back Olly Morgan, London Irish youngster Shane Geraghty, Wasps centre Fraser Waters, second-row Louis Deacon and back-row utility man Andy Hazell earlier this month.

After another ten have been culled in two weeks time, the final squad will take on France once more on August 18th in a final practice match before they begin their campaign against USA in September.

© Adfero Ltd