Martin Johnson names players for NZ tour

13/05/2008 12:27

By Padraic Halpin

LONDON (Reuters) - New England manager Martin Johnson named six uncapped players in a 32-man squad on Tuesday for next month’s two-test tour of New Zealand, his first selection since taking over from former coach Brian Ashton.

The London Irish trio of Nick Kennedy, David Paice and Topsy Ojo were included for the first time alongside Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care, Bristol prop Jason Hobson and hooker Dylan Hartley of Northampton.

Lock Steve Borthwick will captain the side in the absence of the injured prop Phil Vickery, who is recovering from a knee ligament injury. Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out last month and requires shoulder surgery.

Johnson’s contract does not begin until July 1 and while he remains in England with his pregnant wife, the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) Elite Rugby director Rob Andrew will oversee the tests in Auckland on June 14 and Christchurch on June 21.

"There has never been a bad All black team in the history of the game. We have to concentrate on our own performance, it will be a formidable task," Johnson said when asked how New Zealand’s strict selection rules might affect the strength of their team.

An increasing number of All Blacks have joined European clubs, ruling themselves out of selection for New Zealand.

The selection of wing Ojo, second row .....continued below

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Kennedy and hooker Paice caps a fine season for London Irish after they reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

"It was a very close call between Topsy (Ojo) and those who are on the England Saxons (B team) tour (of North America)," Johnson told television reporters after the squad was announced at the RFU’s Twickenham headquarters.

"We felt he just edged it on performance, he’s a very exciting player."

New Zealand-born Hartley could earn a belated first cap after being banned for six months last year for eye-gouging. The suspension ruled him out of contention for a place in England’s World Cup squad.

Former lock Johnson, who led England to their 2003 World Cup victory, was appointed last month, assuming selection duties from Ashton, controversially released as coach despite steering the team to the 2007 World Cup final and second place in this year’s Six Nations.

Squad:

Backs: Mike Brown, Paul Sackey, David Strettle, Topsy Ojo, Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Jamie Noon, Toby Flood, Olly Barkley, Danny Cipriani, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Peter Richards, Danny Care

Forwards: Matt Stevens, Andrew Sheridan, Tim Payne, Jason Hobson, Lee Mears, Dylan Hartley, David Paice, Nick Kennedy, Steve Borthwick (captain), Ben Kay, Tom Palmer, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Michael Lipman, Tom Rees, Nick Easter, Luke Narraway

(Editing by Rex Gowar)

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