Our England team for the November Tests

Friday October 22 2004
We play the selection game with England

With the news that St Jonny of England has been ruled out of the November Tests, we thought we would look ahead to England's campaign against Canada, Australia and South Africa and just what sort of team new coach Andy Robinson could put out to try and get the World Champions on the winning track.

Time for cap? Sale's Mark Cueto

As an England fan it used to be pretty easy to pick an England team.

Just 12 months ago you would start with Johno at 4, JW at 10, the Holy Trinity at 6,7 and 8, Greenwood, Thompson at hooker and work from there. Truly the hardest things to reconcile would be who to play at No.9 and whether Billy Whizz was better at wing or fullback.

Fast forward to October 2004 and it becomes like me taking my Maths exam at 16.

You can write the date and page title and then the panic starts to set in whilst you desperately look for that banker question somewhere in the paper, however few points it has on offer, just to get you started.

Sadly those bankers are few and far between right now for England.

Jason Robinson at fullback and now Jonny's shoulder, ahem, sorry 'upper arm' injury has ruled him out of action, Charlie Hodgson at fly-half, possibly Mike Tindall in the midfield plus Joe Worsley somewhere in the back row are as far as you get.

Aside from that, it really is take your pick.

Cue the (probably justified) gloating from the south about lack of depth in English rugby.

From the top down, at loosehead England will be boosted by the return of Sale's Trevor Woodman from injury just in time. David Flatman remains sidelined, although Robinson could turn to the veteran Graham Rowntree, absent from the RWC squad, but playing well for Tigers again this season.

At hooker, Steve Thompson has fitness concerns and he has hardly been in great form for most of 2004. George Chuter's wandering boot rules him out of contention which leaves Leeds' long-time England squad member Mark Regan and Sale's Andy Titterall in the reckoning. 

Toss up between the two, experience and regular first-team rugby at Tykes if nothing else should shade it for Regan.

At tighthead prop, Phil Vickery's injury issues would seem to leave Julian White as the only real option.

In the locks, Steve Borthwick looks likely to retain the No.5 jersey but as to who partners him, well it could be one of many. Simon Shaw is still out with a neck injury, but may be available, other options include a return for Ben Kay but the best bet may be to retain the Bath combination with Danny Grewcock coming in at No.4. Another start would mean 50 England caps for Grewcock.

In the back-row, it is a case of scrabbling around and making the pieces fit the jigsaw. Worsley is a shoo-in ... somewhere. He's played most of his Tests for England at No.8 but is a blindside at club level with the now Test retired Lawrence Dallaglio occupying the Wasps' eight spot.

Also likely to figure is Martin Corry of Leicester, no doubt there was relief all round England when he only got done for two weeks for stamping, and it is likely he will take the blindside role.

As for openside, well take your pick. Magnus Lund, Andy Hazell, Michael Lipman, Pat Sanderson or the returning Lewis Moody. If the latter comes through some Heineken Cup games unscathed, he should fit in there although will England gamble on the exciting, if largely untried, Lund?

At half-back to partner Charlie Hodgson, Matt Dawson's television appearances would seem to rule him out of contention leaving the likes of Harry Ellis and long-time understudy Andy Gomarsall to fight it out. A bold pick would be Ellis, but Gomarsall may be a more trusty option.

In the midfield, Will Greenwood, like his club, seems to be struggling for form therefore an inside partner needs to be found for Mike Tindall. Most likely this will be found in the shape of Olly Barkley who will give Hodgson a second fly-half option.

On the wings, given injuries to Josh Lewsey surely it is time for Sale's Premiership lethal weapon Mark Cueto to finally get called up? As for the 11 jersey, tough one but does England have anyone fit who is better than Ben Cohen? James Simpson-Daniel is an option but is he any more proven than Cohen? England will be hoping the international arena is where the Saints man can recapture some of his 2003 form.

As for captain now that St. Jonny is out? Well, possibly Borthwick, possibly Tindall but most likely Jason Robinson although being stuck all the way out at fullback is not ideal but then in reality, nothing is with England right now.

So there you have it. Plenty of rugby still to come but we reckon only four survivors from the RWC-winning side will make it to the November Tests.

It may well be a long, cold November for the England team and their fans.

Our England team: 15 Jason Robinson (c), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Joe Worsley 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Steve Borthwick, 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Julian White, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Trevor Woodman

• What do you think of our selection? Mad or sane?