606v2 picks the England World up squad: The 16th Forward

Martin Johnson World Cup training squad announcement a couple of weeks ago got us all talking about who should be there/shouldn't be there/should go to the World Cup/shouldn't go to the World Cup etc. Now that the heat has died down a little bit and the squad has had a bit of time to sink in, who do we think should make the final 30? Over the next few weeks I'll post a series of polls so that we can select a 30 man World Cup squad.

Current squad- as chosen by you:
Props: Dan Cole, Alex Corbisiero, Andrew Sheridan, Matt Stevens
Hookers: Dylan Hartley, Lee Mears, Steve Thompson
Locks: Louis Deacon, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer
Back row: Tom Croft, Nick Easter, James Haskell, Lewis Moody, Tom Wood

With 3 locks and 5 back row in the squad, we have room for one more player in those positions. With Lawes covering flanker and Croft covering second row we do have flexibility as to whether to go for the fourth second row or the extra flanker.

The players finishing on the bubble in the second row and back row votes were Simon Shaw (16 votes in his catagory) and Chris Robshaw (10 votes in his catagory) respectively. Multiple voting is not allowed (would be pointless to allow it) so vote for the player you would most like to see in this England squad. Winner gets added, loser doesn't.

My preference would be to go for Robshaw, there are few more deserving players of an opportunity in an England shirt. That being said, given his injuries over the last couple of years, I'd be seriously concerned about Deacon not lasting. Shaw may well be prone to falling just as easily, but I'd feel pretty cavalier with Deacon being one of only three dedicated locks.

Good point John about Deacon's injury concerns, but at the end of the day I wouldn't mind seeing Lawes, Palmer, Croft, Moody and Easter with Wood and Haskell on the bench (and Croft obviously covering lock). If Deacon gets a serious injury, then we can call up a replacement.

I voted for Robshaw too, because I think he could possibly be more than just injury cover. If he gets a chance in one of the warm-up or pool games then he could really play his way into first-team contention.

I voted for Robshaw, I think this World Cup will be a step too far for Shaw

Robshaw has to be in the squad. He could potentially form a formidable back row along with Croft and Easter. Ability wise Moody shouldn't even be in the squad let alone the starting XV

just feel we'll need another specialsit lock.

im really not certain about robshaw, couple of months ago i was convinced he deserved his chance but im not sure he'll be able to make the same impact at test level.

he'll have to convince in training

I wouldn't have had Simon Shaw in the 45 man world cup squad let alone world cup 30. He is currently 37, will be 38 in September. He has been a good and loyal servant of England but in my opinion is past his sell by date.

You want players that can actually make the full 80 minutes and have the potential to improve which is why I went for Robshaw.