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Rugby Union

Johnson opts for four new caps in England squad

01/07/2008

New England team manager Martin Johnson has selected four uncapped players in his first senior elite player squad since being installed as the new team manager.

London Wasps' New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey - who qualifies for England through residency in September - is named among the backs in the 32-man squad, while the forwards feature a further three debutants.

Leicester Tigers number eight Jordan Crane, Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley and London Irish lock Nick Kennedy are all included for the first time.

Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel both earn recalls, while fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is listed in the senior squad as he is expected to return from injury by the beginning of the new season.

However, fellow stand-off Danny Cipriani, who is not expected to play before November at the very earliest due to a serious ankle injury, only makes the England Saxons squad.

One major surprise sees experienced centre Mike Tindall dropped from the senior squad to the Saxons, along with a number of fellow veterans including Joe Worsley, Ben Kay and Richard Wigglesworth.

Charlie Hodgson is dropped from the England set-up altogether after being singled out for severe criticism after his performances at fly-half on the below-par two-Test tour of New Zealand last month.

Full England senior squad:

Forwards
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Nick Kennedy (London Irish)
Lee Mears (Bath)
Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester)
Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
Tim Payne (London Wasps)
Tom Rees (London Wasps)
Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
Matt Stevens (Bath)
Phil Vickery (London Wasps)

Backs
Olly Barkley (Gloucester)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Riki Flutey (London Wasps)
Shane Geraghty (London Irish)
Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps)
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
Pete Richards (London Irish)
Paul Sackey (London Wasps)
James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)