Martin Johnson lists English squad for Saturday’s clash against Wales at Twickenham - Rugby
England national Rugby Union team head coach, Martin Johnson, has announced his match day 22 for their upcoming home encounter against Wales. England and Wales will play two games as part of their pre-World Cup preparations. The first of the two games will be played on Saturday, August 6, at Twickenham London.
Johnson has named his squad for Saturday’s clash against Wales on Thursday, August 4 in a press release. He has expressed his hope that the players will make most of the opportunity to earn a place in the England’s final 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Johnson said, “They have got an opportunity. We wouldn't be putting people out there if they didn't have a chance of getting in that 30 (final 30).”
Johnson is not getting carried away by their relatively successful 2011 RBS Six Nations campaign in comparision to the Wales team. He termed the Wales’ team as "Very Strong". He also expressed his hope that Saturday’s encounter will be a hard game.
Johnson further expressed his delight at the return of former England captain, Lewis Moody, into the squad. Earlier this year, Moody missed out from the 2011 RBS Six Nations competition due to injury.
Commenting on re-appointing Moody as the captain of the England team, Johnson replied, “We'll see, we're going to go into this game and we'll see where we are.” He also praised the leadership qualities of the England international. However, he has not confirmed Moody as the captain for their 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.
A few days ago, Johnson dropped five players from his initial training squad for the 2011 World Cup campaign. However, he is yet to finalise the final locks for their World Cup campaign.
Johnson has named Saracens’ lock Mouritz Botha on to the bench for Saturday’s game. Commenting on his inclusion, he said, “Mo has been a good all-round player. He has come in and is rubbing shoulders with guys who have played a few Test matches and not looked out of place at any time, so he deserves that shot as well.”
Johnson has also named Saracens’ and Stevens to mark his return to the side, after serving a two-year drug ban.
England’s squad for their upcoming encounter against Wales at Twickenham includes,
Starting XV : D Armitage (London Irish); M Banahan (Bath Rugby), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), R Flutey (London Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), M Stevens (Saracens), S Shaw (Unattached), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), L Moody (Bath Rugby, capt), J Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath Rugby), D Wilson (Bath Rugby), M Botha (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton Saints), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), C Sharples (Gloucester Rugby).
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