England: Worsley Fit For Ireland/Players Released

[mohamed_ali12]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunio...-for-Wasps.html

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

SENIOR ENGLAND EPS UPDATE

Leicester Tigers fly half Toby Flood is among 15 players Martin Johnson has released from the Senior England EPS to be available to play for their clubs in the Guinness Premiership this weekend.

The full list, which is available below, contains those who have yet completed many minutes in the RBS 6 Nations campaign.

England Team Manager Johnson said he wanted give these players the opportunity of some match action keep them sharp before Ireland come to Twickenham on February 27.

He said: "Some of the players who haven't had too much match time will go back and play and then we can assess them next week.

"It's good have a week to take stock, do a little bit of work and freshen the guys up. We can then get ready for next week [against Ireland] because it's a massive opportunity."

The squad reconvened at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, yesterday afternoon before going their separate ways at the weekend and meeting up again at their training headquarters on Sunday.

The players reported back in good health and subject to medical reviews it is anticipated that all members of the squad will be available for selection.

Johnson added: "There are no major injuries at this stage, just a few bumps and bruises and a few players a bit restricted with dead legs etc but nothing to put anyone in danger of not training next week.

"A couple of players have minor knocks and Lewis Moody has various things – as usual."

The following players will be departing the Senior England EPS training camp this evening for their clubs to play in the Guinness Premiership this weekend:

Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Dan Ward-Smith (London Wasps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)[/b]

As someone said on 606, it doesn't matter how well Foden, Ashton and Flood play, there's no chance of them getting picked.

Interesting quote in the times too - <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

"If we have to kick the ball for 80 minutes, we'll kick the ball for 80 minutes," Johnson said. "We don't just kick it because we can't think what else to do. You kick to create pressure. Against France last year, Ugo Monye came out of his 22, kicked, we chased well, turned France over and three phases later we'd scored. Nobody seemed to complain then.''[/b]

He just doesn't get it, does he.

 

[Olyy]

I'm presuming them being released means they're def. not playing the next match?

I'd like to see Worseley on the bench, as he's a good tackler if nothing else, but i wouldn't replace Haskell with him at all

I agree with what you said about Flood/Foden/Ashton but add in Lawes as well.

Foden has been playing really really well the saints yet just sits warming the bench and doesnt see game time game after game.
Flood got 70ish mins of gametime, but not in his best position, and then the match where he's on the bench, Wilko throws a wobbler, yet Flood doesn't get a look in.
Lawes get's snubbed in favour of Deacon. What more needs to be said? Ridiculous.
Ashton should have at least been on the bench for Italy, he won't get a look in for the rest of the 6N, and probably won't next year (as Johnson will be looking towards the WC and wont name any players with <1000000000000caps and/or a Tigers/Wasps jersey in their wardrobe) so won't get a look in untill 6N 2012 probably =/

 

[mohamed_ali12]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Feb 17 2010, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I'm presuming them being released means they're def. not playing the next match?

I'd like to see Worseley on the bench, as he's a good tackler if nothing else, but i wouldn't replace Haskell with him at all

I agree with what you said about Flood/Foden/Ashton but add in Lawes as well.

Foden has been playing really really well the saints yet just sits warming the bench and doesnt see game time game after game.
Flood got 70ish mins of gametime, but not in his best position, and then the match where he's on the bench, Wilko throws a wobbler, yet Flood doesn't get a look in.
Lawes get's snubbed in favour of Deacon. What more needs to be said? Ridiculous.
Ashton should have at least been on the bench for Italy, he won't get a look in for the rest of the 6N, and probably won't next year (as Johnson will be looking towards the WC and wont name any players with <1000000000000caps and/or a Tigers/Wasps jersey in their wardrobe) so won't get a look in untill 6N 2012 probably =/[/b]

I'm sure some of them will, otherwise we wouldn't be able to scrounge enough players together!

I'd guess (presuming everyone is fit) a team of:

Payne
Mears
Cole
Shaw
Borthwick
Haskell
Moody
Easter
Care
Wilkinson
Monye
Flutey
Tait
Cueto
Armitage

Hartley
Wilson
Deacon
Worsley/Armitage
Hodgson
Flood
Foden

No change in team, hopefully a change in tactics

 

[Olyy]

Is Mears back in now?
I'd like Hartley to start again, what he lacks in throwing he makes up for in general hookering around the park, and our lineout is decent enough to cope with slightly misthrown balls (Borthwick and Easter have been pretty damn good in the lineouts so far), it was just Care miscatching a couple that made it seem worse than it was