In the mix: Mako Vunipola
England head coach Stuart Lancaster has handed prop Mako Vunipola and hooker Tom Youngs squad calls ahead of their upcoming November Series.
The squad is for the game against Fiji at Twickenham on November 10.
32 players will meet at St George's Park, Burton on Sunday, including James Haskell, Ugo Monye, Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs - all promoted from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad as injury replacements for Tom Croft, Ben Foden, Alex Corbisiero and Rob Webber respectively.
"As a coaching team we can't wait to go into camp and get the guys focused on what will be a massive challenge in the QBE Internationals - Fiji and then the three major Southern Hemisphere teams in successive weeks," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
"We have been impressed with some of the rugby we have seen in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup and are looking forward to the players bringing that form to Twickenham.
"It's great to be able to give Mako a chance in the squad. He has come through our age grade sides and made a real impact at Saracens. Likewise Tom Youngs, who was with us on tour in South Africa, and we know what James Haskell and Ugo Monye are capable of if they get their opportunity."
England will be at the Football Association's new sports training and development centre from Sunday, October 28 to Thursday, November 1 before returning to their usual training base of Pennyhill Park, Bagshot on Sunday, November 4 ahead of the Test against Fiji.
Meanwhile, the England Saxons coaching team has been finalised, with John Fletcher joining as backs coach for the internationals against the Ireland Wolfhounds and Scotland A in the New Year.
The former Newcastle Falcons boss returns to Kingston Park on Friday, February 1 for the match against the Scots, a week after the Saxons face the Wolfhounds in Ireland.
Fletcher, the England U18 Head Coach and RFU's Professional Player Development Manager, will join Head Coach Jon Callard, with Simon Hardy responsible for the forwards.
"We are delighted to have John on board as we focus on winning two demanding games. His expertise working with a wide group of players makes him a perfect fit for England Saxons and he'll bring tremendous passion to the role," said Callard.
Backs: Anthony Allen (Leicester), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester).
Forwards: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Dan Cole (Leicester), Phil Dowson (Northampton), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).
Comments
jaswai says...
So that's a third of the England team are from NZ/ Pacific Isles now?
No wonder the public have lost interest. In recent times it's been Vainikolo, Henry Paul, Hartley, Tuilagi, Hape, Waldrom and now the Wellingtonian Vunipola.
Not to mention the Saffers Botha and Fourie.
And the Poms used to go ape when a kid that moved to NZ at two yrs old got into the ABs. Not to mention anyone with brown skin who was born there..
Invest in your grassroots and bring players through. Don't let down home grown talent every time Rangi Jones finds a granny from Grimsby lurking in the undergrowth. It's far and away the largest and wealthiest union in the world so what the blue blazes are they spending their money on? Immigration Solicitors?
And besides, England is starting to look like a Barbarians side.
A bad one.
Posted 16:36 25th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Haskell?? Tom Wood is not ready yet but there is an argument to include him anyway. Considering the opponents i guess Haskell could prove handy Vs S.Af if he can avoid yellow.This is no training ground and he's got some experience but this could be his last squad call up when Croft is back me thinks. I'd rather have had Easter for one last bash. Burns and 12trees instead of Allen and JTH.
Cole Hartley Sheridan
Launchbury Lawes
Johnson (6) Easter Armitage (7)
Care Burns
12trees Tuilagi
Ashton (14) Brown (15) Goode (11)
16 Gray, 17 Marler, 18, Palmer, 19 Robshaw, 20 youngs, 21 flood, 22, Joseph
Posted 16:19 25th October 2012
Michtymauler says...
Here's an idea.. Why don't we just disband international rugby where teams play under a national flag and qualify through nationality and just have a national super club if you like and each country just chooses players of any nationality from around the world to play in its super club?? Lol
Posted 16:13 25th October 2012
NHsaints says...
we should go fairly well with this squad, I'll be happy with one big 3 win/draw or 3 losses within 5 points...we are a developing side afterall
Posted 16:12 25th October 2012
APV1 says...
Oops - I meant Goode as Brown's benchman, not Allen.
Allen I would consider instead of JTH, perhaps...
Posted 15:47 25th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Tend to agree with alot of people that its pretty good but missing a certain Steffan Armitage, which means its not picked on form.
Lancaster said on the BBC that the average cap total for a world cup winning side is 600. We are nowhere near that yet and need to keep this squad together to develop that sort of experience, so its frustrating and short sighted that Steffon isn't involved.
After a unimaginative summer tour I hope the players can really lay down a marker and show us what they can do. I'm going to the Fiji game which will be fun, I'll be cheering them on and if they respond and bring it up a level then the crowd will feed off their enthusiam and the place will explode with good vibes and cheer! Lets see a good start. Let's see a performance that makes us believe we can compete in 2015. Lets see England's manifesto, not Lancaster's, but England's, its down to the players, its their performance and workrate that'll decide whether we've progressed and shown pride in the English Rose or if we're treading water and collecting pay cheques for wearing white shirts with funny shaped flowers on 'em. What does it mean to those players? We'll start finding out on the 10th November.
Posted 15:22 25th October 2012
lardon says...
There is a few real head scratchers on this list..
Owen Farrell does not deserve a call up at all... Has had a very hit and miss season so far. He was terrible against Exeter a few weeks ago. Hes not a creative player and playing for a very un-creative Saracens team isn't helping his all round game. How fortunate for him is it that Daddy is part of the England coaching team......
Ben Morgan has been terrible this season, Chris Ashton has had a quiet start to the season and Tom Youngs cant throw straight if his life depended on it.
This would be an ideal time to try out Christian Wade and give Varndell another run (pun intended). Also players like Richie Baxter (Exeter), Stefon Armitage (Toulon), Jonny May (Glaws), Luke Arscott (Exeter) and even Brett Sturgess (Exeter) all deserve a place in the Saxons at the very least.
Posted 14:39 25th October 2012
kybone says...
jmanngod- There are 3 Kiwi's in this squad mate, and 2 of those have played age grade rugby for England. Im obviously refering to Hartley and Vunipola. Both of whom have lived in England since their early to mid teens and therefore long before they were known to be talented rugby players.
Posted 14:29 25th October 2012
WindsorRugby says...
I like the idea of giving Burns a run but we need to be flying for Australia so need to start the best team possible for Fiji.
Cole Hartley Marler
Lawes Botha (he loves Botha)
Wood Robshaw Morgan (i'd like to see an out and out 7 but Robshaw has made most turnovers in the premiership and is a great leader)
Care
Flood
Ashton
Barrit and Tuilagi
Jonathan Joseph on the other wing
Brown
It's a little unusual but they are just desperate for a first win so will go all big guns blazing and then hopefully spin it in the second half.
Posted 14:21 25th October 2012
Trader2 says...
APV1 thats a funny way to spell mediocre
Posted 13:58 25th October 2012
sanka69 says...
Freddie Burns should be in for sure and 12trees over JTH (too much like Barrett who has been looking a little more inventive so far this season)
Posted 13:44 25th October 2012
Chinstan says...
Given that SL is tied to the EPS selections from the summer and can only change injured people no real suprises. Shame that Wade, Burns and Armitage aren't involved but hopefully they will be in the mix for the 6 nations.
@jmanngod he father captained Tonga, he grew up in Wales and has played for Eng U18 and U20 level not exactly what I'd call a Kiwi but whatever floats your boat!
Posted 13:21 25th October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Well no real suprises there, but I still woinder where the hell Allen fits in, all everybody says is he has potential. What good is potential with no cutting edge. I'd still prefer to see Easter to the likes of Waldrom, rather a thinkin old un than a robotic lump, who epitomises so much of what England were and don't want to be again. Armitage should have been in there too, no doubt about that and his No 15 brother is still a great player. The next 12 months will be a major test for Lancaster, has he the wit and the management nouse to change this bunch into a dynamic force. I certainly hope so, he needs to get moving. Fiji will be no major test, but its against the big boys that we need to see some improvement. Not just in effort, but in inventian and dynamism. The clock is ticking.
Posted 13:18 25th October 2012
sirtidychris says...
Sad to see no place for billy and freddie the gloucester maestros especially when our only fly half back up plays mainly at outside centre with his team scoring no tries this year with him at 10. The centre pairing again looks horribly unbalanced with either two outside centres starting or brad barrit forming an awesome defense wall but not doing much else. The coaches are carrying a bit of deadwood there but no cueto, easter, tindall, sheridan so they are doing okay !
Posted 12:59 25th October 2012
BWJC says...
TVaddict - not sure what games you watch son, but Monye is on fire this season! I watch Quins every week, he rarely drops the ball and his ability to win the restart is 2nd to none.
Wade is just too small to play international rugby I'm afraid
Posted 12:45 25th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well just a few new faces,most players are from the EPS ,so as expected .Would like to see a little more movement from the Saxons to an enlarged EPS after the aurtum internationals ,ready for the 6Ns,and hopefully,annother improvement for England .Time to start thinking of blooding the likes of Burns ,May,12trees ,Lowe,kIitchiner ,Wade ect,and maybe getting an agreement with Toulon and other french clubs about releasing english players for camps ect lol,Yeah havent totally given up about getting S.Armitage and A.Sheriadan back into the England squad lol
Posted 12:30 25th October 2012
GCP_jones says...
Tha looks a decent squad i have to say. it must be frustrating for Lancaster that he can't pick Steffon Armitage who is playing his socks off.
I thought Vunipola was excellent for England at the U20 World Cup, great in the set-piece, but in the loose is were he really stood out, great skill set, off-loads etc, of course they have been utterly discouraged at Saracens.
Is he related to his name-sake at Wasps?.
Posted 12:29 25th October 2012
rugbylover says...
Thank you, NZ.
Posted 12:19 25th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
TV Addict - good call re Twelvetrees and Burns. Must admit, I'd forgotten them. Both are unlucky not to make the squad.
But SL was never going to select them. I'm beginning to feel SL is a good coach but a little conservative. Perhaps though I should give him some time. He made one or two unexpected selections for the last 6N and we didn't do too badly in that.
Posted 12:16 25th October 2012
APV1 says...
Chaps - those of you who are not complete twerps - can we make a pact not to rise to the idiotic troll comments? Let's not take their bait and let's just have a healthy debate on the squad based on form, rather than birthplace.
Please? It's the only way to stop the trolls - don't feed them.
Posted 11:47 25th October 2012