England- Summer Tour Squad Named

Lancaster's named the 42-man squad.

Shame not to see May in there, and for me, Monye is an odd inclusion. Good to see Kitchener get a chance, though I would rather have had Garvey in his place to be honest.

Here's the full squad:

Forwards (23)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Otago Highlanders)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (19)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Thinking that the second rows possibly look a bit lightweight...

Also is Morgan's inclusion injury-dependent or does SL know for sure that it is only a niggle?

Could be worse

Looking at the backrow options, I think

6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

Bench: Fearns

Would be a great option- plenty of power and running threat. Fearns can cover all backrow positions from the bench

Can't really argue with most of that. Pretty good squad in my opinion.

The names I would question would be Mears,Stevens and Monye.

Also Burns is unlucky to miss out.

I agree regarding Stevens beshocked. I like to think that if Thomas wasn't injured, he would be going in place of him. I think Mears is recalled purely because of the number of injuries we have at that position.

Monye's choice is a bit out of the blue.

Overall though, pretty happy. Good to see SL's sticking to his word regarding calling up youngsters.

Someone just pointed out on the Quins forum that there's not a single Gloucester player going. Very odd, but Wood and Sharples are injured apparently. Maybe they think two rookie fly halves would be a step too far, so have left Burns out for that reason.

So to break it down

Props
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)

Hookers
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Locks
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
George Robson (Harlequins)

Backrow
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby)
James Haskell (Otago Highlanders)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)

Scrum Half
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Fly Half
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)

Centre
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

Wing
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)

Full Back
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)

No Sale or Newcastle players going either by the looks of things.

Really surprised Attwood has missed out, but happy to see Fearns in there. Not sure on Monye either, think his international career is limited, so would have taken a lot more sense to have someone like Sharples or even May in there and taken a chance. Same goes for Hodgson, but I guess you will need some experience, especially around the camp.

I was thinking the same regarding Monye Bathie. I came to the conclusion that maybe he's touring there because of his performance on the Lion's tour...?

So...

Foden
Ashton
Tuilagi
Barritt
Strettle
Flood / Hodgson
Youngs/Dickson
Morgan/Dowson
Robshaw
Dowson/Haskell
Parling
Botha
Cole
Hartley
Corbs

Bench- hopefully PDJ, Mears, Palmer, Fearns, Dickson/Youngs, Farrell, ?Monye? (looking pretty hard to cover the wings and FB in the first team)

Gives this as a midweek side

Brown
Wade
Lowe/Joseph
Allen
Monye/Joseph
Someone at 10
Care
Waldrum
Fearns/Haskell
Johnson
Robson
Kitchener
PDJ
Grey
Marler

Mullan, Youngs, Launchbury, Fearns?, Dickson, Goode, JTH/JJ

Lancaster does mention the lions tour when talking about Monye in this video on the RFU site. Just him discussing the squad selections.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2012/May/NewsArticles/100512_England_squad_SA.aspx

Woooo George Lowe! It's about bloody time!

Interesting to get the club breakdown

Quins (9)
Leicester (9)
Saracens (7)
Saints (6)
London Irish (2)
Wasps (2)
Bath (2)
Exeter (1)
Worcester (1)
Scarlets (1)
Otago Highlanders (1)
Stade Francais (1)

Gloucester,Sale and Newcastle (0)

My worry, as a Quins fan, is that he has slightly overdone it with the Quins players

Happy with the squad apart from the second row options. Thought Attwood and Garvey had done enough to warrant a tour place over someone who struggles to get bench time let alone a starting shirt at Leicester in Kitchener.

Glad to see Allen get a call up, about year overdue but still, glad to see him finally there. Also pleasantly surprised to see Kitchener in there, it will be great for his development along with Launchbury.

Does no one else think Burns is better than Farrell?

Think Kitchener's selection is a bit of a farce bearing in mind how little he plays. He's taken a bit of a pop on Launchbury and rightfully so, so would have gone with Attwood and Garvey instead of Kitchener and Palmer.

Also have no idea how Goode got in there ahead of Rob Miller? Miller's been on fire all season, so consistent. Case of Sale being an unglamorous side?

EnglishReign wrote:Does no one else think Burns is better than Farrell?

Absolutely not. Completely different players though. One is flair and attack, the other very pragmatic and a great defender

EnglishReign it would be silly of Lancaster to drop Farrell after his performances in the 6 nations at 10.

What has Burns done recently? Gloucester are hardly setting the world alight at the moment.

It's hard to see Burns getting ahead above any of Hodgson,Flood and Farrell.

An impressive rise by Tom Youngs, from centre to a hooker with international honours within what? 3 years?

beshocked wrote:EnglishReign it would be silly of Lancaster to drop Farrell after his performances in the 6 nations at 10.

What has Burns done recently? Gloucester are hardly setting the world alight at the moment.

It's hard to see Burns getting ahead above any of Hodgson,Flood and Farrell.

I agree beshocked, but think that Farrell might well get dropped, but for Flood, who is in great form

Agree that Miller might feel aggrieved.

Bathite wrote:Think Kitchener's selection is a bit of a farce bearing in mind how little he plays. He's taken a bit of a pop on Launchbury and rightfully so, so would have gone with Attwood and Garvey instead of Kitchener and Palmer.

Also have no idea how Goode got in there ahead of Rob Miller? Miller's been on fire all season, so consistent. Case of Sale being an unglamorous side?

Goode has been very consistent for the last 3 seasons. Deservedly the 3rd choice FB.

Yet you would pick Attwood who has been playing in a pretty dismal Bath side?

Garvey started brightly but has now fallen off the radar.

Will be interesting to see where Laucnberry plays...backrow or second row?

Agree Cumbrian, it's been a heck of a season for Youngs. As FKASam keeps reminding us, his development this season was hampered by a long term back injury. Considering that, his rise is even more impressive.

Hope he takes his form to South Africa.

Thats a really good squad looking forward to the future.. Lots of youth, who have had a good season in the AP.

Should be an interesting tour.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Agree that Miller might feel aggrieved.

Unfortunately for him he's not better than Goode,Brown or Foden.

In the positions where three players are going, it will be interesting to see whether it's the test bench player (2nd choice) that starts the midweek games or the 3rd choice player who starts. Maybe one each.

Launchbury will cover both off the bench imo

Sharples is having surgery on a long-standing shoulder complaint, but has been assured of an international future by SL.

Surely Jonny May should have toured? Wing position looks a bit light for a 5 match tour. And Monye must be past his best and form has been nothing special. May, as well as guys like Tom Biggs and Brady at Sale have been on form. They must be disappointed.

Interesting Alex Goode has been selected at this stage, having probably had his worst season for the last 3 years. Not saying he is undeserving of a call up, he is a top player when on form, but similar to the Dowson situation he was ignored when he should have played and is now selected when others (Rob Millar, Abendanon, could include May again) are playing better.

Personnel wise I'm not inspired by the probable combinations in the backs but hopefully Catt will get them linking up in attack. The players are there for an exciting backline but I see the safe options playing in the tests (Dickson, Barritt, Strettle). Hopefully Manu learns how and when to pass and Ashton and Foden will be allowed to shed the shackles and kick-start the rest of the backs.

beshocked wrote:

Bathite wrote:Think Kitchener's selection is a bit of a farce bearing in mind how little he plays. He's taken a bit of a pop on Launchbury and rightfully so, so would have gone with Attwood and Garvey instead of Kitchener and Palmer.

Also have no idea how Goode got in there ahead of Rob Miller? Miller's been on fire all season, so consistent. Case of Sale being an unglamorous side?

Goode has been very consistent for the last 3 seasons. Deservedly the 3rd choice FB.

Yet you would pick Attwood who has been playing in a pretty dismal Bath side?

Garvey started brightly but has now fallen off the radar.

Goode was great in the 1st of those three seasons, ok in the 2nd and pretty 6/10 in the one just gone. Wyles has played better at FB when I've seen him there. Not sure what Goode offers really, not huge pace and not a viable option at 10 anymore.

I'd pick Attwood ahead of Palmer yes, certainly and I wouldn't pick anyone on how well/badly their team is playing, that's a stupid argument. You wouldn't say Launchbury and Wade don't deserve to play because of Wasps poor form. I'd pick Attwood because he has a lot more potential than Palmer, who hasn't started for Stade and doesn't have age on his side.

beshocked wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Agree that Miller might feel aggrieved.

Unfortunately for him he's not better than Goode,Brown or Foden.

He's arguably better than Goode, certainly in the better form and worth a look at.

pleased that Kitchener, Launchbury, wade, mullan tom youngs and fearns are in.

hopefully see a backrow of

6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

combining a workhorse in Robshaw, a heavy duty carrier in Morgan, and Haskell who has added serious breakdown work to his carrying power and pace. Hopefully the work rate of Haskell and Robshaw together would be able to nullify the lack of an out and out 7

Bathite wrote:Think Kitchener's selection is a bit of a farce bearing in mind how little he plays. He's taken a bit of a pop on Launchbury and rightfully so, so would have gone with Attwood and Garvey instead of Kitchener and Palmer.

Also have no idea how Goode got in there ahead of Rob Miller? Miller's been on fire all season, so consistent. Case of Sale being an unglamorous side?

Good points, I think Kitchener is an excellent player, but I would rather have seen Garvey ahead of him for now. Would rather have had Attwood than Botha. I would liked to have seen Miller there, but lets see how he deals with second season syndrome. I think Goode has deserved a cap for a while.

The other thing I find a little dissapointing is the back-row selections, there are just so many blindsides/ utility flankers in there... would have been good to see Steffon Armitage get a crack.

Bathite wrote:

beshocked wrote:

Bathite wrote:Think Kitchener's selection is a bit of a farce bearing in mind how little he plays. He's taken a bit of a pop on Launchbury and rightfully so, so would have gone with Attwood and Garvey instead of Kitchener and Palmer.

Also have no idea how Goode got in there ahead of Rob Miller? Miller's been on fire all season, so consistent. Case of Sale being an unglamorous side?

Goode has been very consistent for the last 3 seasons. Deservedly the 3rd choice FB.

Yet you would pick Attwood who has been playing in a pretty dismal Bath side?

Garvey started brightly but has now fallen off the radar.

Goode was great in the 1st of those three seasons, ok in the 2nd and pretty 6/10 in the one just gone. Wyles has played better at FB when I've seen him there. Not sure what Goode offers really, not huge pace and not a viable option at 10 anymore.

I'd pick Attwood ahead of Palmer yes, certainly and I wouldn't pick anyone on how well/badly their team is playing, that's a stupid argument. You wouldn't say Launchbury and Wade don't deserve to play because of Wasps poor form. I'd pick Attwood because he has a lot more potential than Palmer, who hasn't started for Stade and doesn't have age on his side.

This I agree with.

Admittedly my view on Kitchener could be a bit biased but, as with Youngs, I think Lancaster has done this. I don't think either will have anything to do with the first team squad but giving them a chance to play midweek and be around the squad will help their development no end.

Bathite wrote:

beshocked wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Agree that Miller might feel aggrieved.

Unfortunately for him he's not better than Goode,Brown or Foden.

He's arguably better than Goode, certainly in the better form and worth a look at.

You can argue it but doesn't mean you are correct. In the better form? Debatable. You evidently didn't watch the Newcastle game. Goode was the only decent performer on the pitch.

Not good enough to leapfrog Goode.

Well i'm not alone in my thoughts mate, plenty of others agree, but that's what forums are for!

mattraven wrote:pleased that Kitchener, Launchbury, wade, mullan tom youngs and fearns are in.

hopefully see a backrow of

6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

combining a workhorse in Robshaw, a heavy duty carrier in Morgan, and Haskell who has added serious breakdown work to his carrying power and pace. Hopefully the work rate of Haskell and Robshaw together would be able to nullify the lack of an out and out 7

Also they have both played 7 so look like a good pair to combine their semi-openside skills at the breakdown

Dave Attwood is a player with massive potential. Huge bloke, the good sort of nasty streak, massive in defence, decent set-piece forward. He was by far the biggest loss to Gloucester when he moved on at the end of last season. However I think he has been overshadowed by Ryan Caldwell who joined Bath from Ulster around the same time and had a massive impact. Also had a couple of on field discipline issues which Lancaster doesn't seem to approve of.

However I think he deserves a place ahead of some that are included and should be a player England are looking to develop into one of their top locks.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

mattraven wrote:pleased that Kitchener, Launchbury, wade, mullan tom youngs and fearns are in.

hopefully see a backrow of

6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

combining a workhorse in Robshaw, a heavy duty carrier in Morgan, and Haskell who has added serious breakdown work to his carrying power and pace. Hopefully the work rate of Haskell and Robshaw together would be able to nullify the lack of an out and out 7

Also they have both played 7 so look like a good pair to combine their semi-openside skills at the breakdown

I think they may be needed, some of the second row are slightly lighter weight.

Surprised to hear that SL is still talking about Goode's ability to play 10!
I thought that was tried and tested and didnt really work for Sarries.

It all sounds positive - I am sure that this squad wil change somewhat before they travel.
Semi's and Finals will all be hard fought - but its interesting that the semi final team loosers will have their players in contention for the home Baabaa's fixture.

Lots of people have been praising Launchbury - whats so special about this guy?

I had hoped that Delon Armitage's fantastic recent form would have led to his return. If Danny Care can be forgiven, why not him?

beshocked wrote:EnglishReign it would be silly of Lancaster to drop Farrell after his performances in the 6 nations at 10.

What has Burns done recently? Gloucester are hardly setting the world alight at the moment.

It's hard to see Burns getting ahead above any of Hodgson,Flood and Farrell.

Fair enough, if it's on current form then I can see why.

Wouldn't have minded seeing Miller or S Armitage in there somewhere though, if it is about form.

Because we need scrum halves but have an abundance of fullbacks playing as well or better than Armitage

Delon has 4 tries in the last 3 games, and has the sort of experience that the squad lacks at the moment.

Where would he play? He is also deliberately taking himself out of England contention by going overseas.

Surprised to hear that SL is still talking about Goode's ability to play 10!
I thought that was tried and tested and didnt really work for Sarries.

I would expect him to be covering 10 and 15 for the mid week team, probably from the bench. It makes sense as he can play there and he is a good points kicker so it shouldn't be to bad.

Wouldn't have minded seeing Miller or S Armitage in there somewhere though, if it is about form

+1 on that!