England Ruby Squad for Summer Oz Tour

[#Chri5#]

Just annouced:

Backs
Stuart Abbott, London Wasps
Iain Balshaw, Leeds Tykes
Olly Barkley, Bath Rugby
Scott Bemand, Leicester Tigers
Mike Catt, London Irish
Andy Goode, Leicester Tigers
Jamie Noon, Newcastle Falcons
Peter Richards, Gloucester
James Simpson-Daniel, Gloucester
Mathew Tait, Newcastle Falcons
Mark Van Gisbergen, London Wasps
Tom Varndell, Leicester Tigers
Tom Voyce, London Wasps
Nick Walshe, Bath Rugby

Forwards
Duncan Bell, Bath Rugby
Alex Brown, Gloucester
George Chuter, Leicester Tigers
Louis Deacon, Leicester Tigers
Chris Jones, Sale Sharks
Ben Kay, Leicester Tigers
Michael Lipman, Bath Rugby
Magnus Lund, Sale Sharks
Lee Mears, Bath Rugby
Lewis Moody, Leicester Tigers
Tim Payne, London Wasps
Graham Rowntree, Leicester Tigers
Pat Sanderson, Worcester Warriors (captain)
Andy Titterrell, Sale Sharks
Julian White, Leicester Tigers
Joe Worsley, London Wasps

Players not selected because of injury

Steve Borthwick, Bath Rugby
Jon Clarke, Northampton Saints
Lawrence Dallaglio, London Wasps
Shaun Perry, Bristol Shoguns
Andrew Sheridan, Sale Sharks
Matt Stevens, Bath Rugby
Phil Vickery, London Wasps

 

[Alex_L]

Not the squad i would have picked. I find it rather interesting that they've announced the squad before they've announced who the attack and defence coaches will be as well as the EDR. I would have thought particularly the attack coach would have liked a say in which backs went.

Also what are players like Bemand in the squad for, hes played 5 times this season for Tigers I believe, yet someone like paul hodgson has played most games and looked in great form throughout the season and is still only 23, and realistically any scrum half could look good for tigers with the pack they have. He has to give players a chance based on form and not reputation (club or personal) especially as this is a tour supposedly for the young players to have a chance.

Personally I can't see what benefit touring one of the big three down unders is going to have. It can potentially destroy players confidence if they get beaten badly (a possibility in my opinion).