Martin Johnson names NZ tour squad

14/05/2008 10:53

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 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 he will stay in England with his pregnant wife throughout the June tour.

"Would I like to be out there? Of course I would, but circumstances are what they are," Johnson told reporters at Twickenham.

"It’s awkward not being there and it’s not ideal but I will get updated on all the day-to-day issues that happen and (will be involved) with selection obviously.

SELECTION POLICY

"Sitting here right now we have a fairly good idea of who will be in the starting 15 and a determination in the way we want to play."

England’s Elite Rugby director Rob Andrew will oversee .....continued below

Advertisement starts

---

---

Advertisement ends

the tests in Auckland on June 14 and Christchurch on June 21 against an All Blacks side without a number European-based players.

"There has never been a bad All Black team in the history of the game," Johnson said when asked whether New Zealand would be weakened by their policy of not selecting foreign-based players.

"They also had one of the most talented squads that ever went to the World Cup. They’ll come back after that disappointment determined to reach their performance levels."

New Zealand lost to hosts France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals.

For New Zealand-born Hartley, it could mean 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.

"He has long been seen as a potential international player," Johnson said of the only non-top division player selected.

Along with Wilkinson and Vickery, the likes of Simon Shaw, Lewis Moody, Josh Lewsey, Harry Ellis and James Simpson-Daniel were not considered due to injury.

WINNING MENTALITY

Former lock Johnson, who captained England to their 2003 World Cup victory, added that he wanted to bring a winning mentality to the team, starting in New Zealand.

"You want your team to win. If you have a winning style then you can play a number of different ways. We can talk about tactics but if you haven’t got a team who can actually execute it on the field then it’s for nothing," he said.

"It’s all about attitude. Playing New Zealand in New Zealand is one of the most difficult things to do in rugby. If we get ourselves organised and perform to the level near where we think this squad can perform we’ll be competitive."

Page: 12next

© 2008 Reuters Click for restrictions