Rugby-Johnson poised to unveil another new-look England side

Tue Nov 3, 2009 6:48pm GMT
 
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By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - England will face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday with an inexperienced team full of new combinations after manager Martin Johnson released a further 10 players to their clubs on Tuesday.

Johnson postponed the naming of his side for the first of three November internationals (1430 GMT) until Wednesday after a run of injuries disrupted his preparations.

But the likely lineup began to emerge after Steffon Armitage, George Chuter, David Barnes, Ben Foden, Ben Kay, Nick Kennedy, David Strettle, Mathew Tait, Richard Wigglesworth and Joe Worsley all left the squad's Surrey training base.

Despite the return of 70-cap flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson and the presence of experienced forward duo Lewis Moody and captain Steve Borthwick there is a callow look throughout the squad.

Foden had been many people's expected starter at fullback but it now looks as if Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto will fill the back three places.

Shane Geraghty and Dan Hipkiss should get together for yet another new centre partnership outside Wilkinson and either Danny Care or Paul Hodgson at scrumhalf.

With injury ruling out his first-choice front row, Johnson is likely to opt for Tim Payne and David Wilson either side of hooker Dylan Hartley, who is also fighting to recover from a hamstring strain.

Uncapped Biarritz and former Wasps centre Ayoola Erinle, who joined the squad only on Monday, is retained and is likely to be among the replacements, as is uncapped 20-year-old Northampton lock Courtney Lawes. (Editing by Sonia Oxley; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

 

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