Martin Johnson announces England’s match-day squad for weekend encounter against Ireland - Rugby
England team manager and head coach of English national Rugby Union team, Martin Johnson, has announced his 22-man match day squad for their last pre-world cup encounter against Ireland.
Johnson announced the squad on Thursday, August 25, featuring six changes in the starting xv that took the field against Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday, August 13. These players include
Chris Ashton, Jonny Wilkinson, Manu Tuilagi, Andrew Sheridan, James Haskell and Tom Croft.
England will take on Ireland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Saturday, August 27.
Commenting on the occasion, Johnson said, “We expect a hugely competitive game in Dublin and it gives us the ideal run out before we depart for the World Cup. These warm up fixtures have been
valuable in terms of our preparation for the World Cup, giving players game time together.”
Johnson has named England’s international centre, Mike Tindall, as the captain of the side for their upcoming Irish encounter. The Saturday’s game cap will take the Tindall’s total tally of
caps to 72, which equals the record of Will Carling as England's most-capped centre.
Johnson’s starting xv features three changes each in the forwards and backs line.
In backs, Johnson has named a new centre combination comprising of the Tindall and Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi will start the match at the outside centre position, while Tindall will start at the
inside centre position. Centre Shontayne Hape, has been dropped from the match day 22 making way for the Tuilagi in the starting xv.
English veteran international fly half Jonny Wilkinson will take the field at the fly half position in the place of the Toby Flood. Young flood will start the match from the bench.
In back row forwards pack, Johnson has tried a new flanker duo of Tom Croft and James Haskell. The two players have replaced the pair of Tom Wood and Hendre Fourie at the flanker positions.
Fourie has been dropped from the match day squad, while Wood is moved on the bench.
Additionally Johnson has given a game to their prop Andrew Sheridan, following his successful recovery from the injury. Sheridan has replaced Alex Corbisiero, who has dropped from the match
day squad.
Besides this, Johnson has handed over the international debut to the London Wasps scrumhalf Joe Simpson. Simpson is named on the bench and is expected to take the field during the second half
of the game.
The duo of Matt Stevens and Delon Armitage retained their positions on the bench.
Starting XV: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Mike Tindall (captain), 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Nick Easter, 7 James Haskell,
6 Tom Croft, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Delon Armitage.
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