Johnson names Flutey in his first Elite Player Squad
England head coach Martin Johnson has named four uncapped players in his first Elite Player Squad, including Wasps centre Riki Flutey. The World Cup winning captain Johnson began his job officially on July 1, and wasted no time in stamping his authority.
Centre Mike Tindall, second-row Ben Kay and No10 Charlie Hodgson were among the players culled by the former lock in his first 32-man squad.
Joe Worsley, Michael Lipman, Richard Wigglesworth, Topsy Ojo, David Strettle and Mike Brown, who toured New Zealand last month, have all been dropped from the top 32 too.
But Johnson has included the uncapped New Zealand Maori international Flutey, who qualifies for England on residency grounds in September, Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy and Leicester back-row forward Jordan Crane.
Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani has been included in the second string, even though he will not return from a fractured dislocation of his right ankle until at least the end of November.
The only specialist fly-half in the full England squad is Jonny Wilkinson, though Olly Barkley, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty all provide cover from inside centre.
Johnson admitted changes were necessary after England lost both Tests on the New Zealand tour.
He said: "I don't think there is a tougher task than going to play New Zealand away.
"What did we find out? Some of the players stood up and competed well and I think we found out something about everyone who went on that tour, and that is factored in to the squad we have named today.
"We were beaten in those two matches by a very good New Zealand team. We have to compete with them and become a better rugby team."
Johnson added that the captain of the team will be named in due course.
England's 32-man Elite Player Squad:
Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps).
Backs: O Barkley (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), P Richards (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale), T Varndell (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).
England's 32-man Saxons Elite Player Squad:
Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale), B Kay (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), D Paice (London Irish), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), J Ward (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps).
Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale).
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