From the Touchlines: Praise for new-look England

Rob Andrew - no doubt with a hefty push from Martin Johnson back in England - pointed the way to England's future early on Tuesday when unveiling England's side to play New Zealand this weekend.

Amazingly, there is just one survivor from the team that reached the World Cup final just eight months on - and that's man mountain Andrew Sheridan. To further highlight the England shake-up, there are 11 new faces from the side that played Ireland in the final game of the Six Nations.

Injuries have forced some of these tweaks - Danny Cipriani, Jonny Wilkinson, Paul Sackey and Nick Easter all would have started for example had injuries not curtailed their touring hopes - but this still shows a bold, new look by Johnson/Andrew, with youth holding the key. In fact just three players are over the age of 30.

Perhaps the most notable figure in the starting line-up is Olly Barkley (pictured above left), who's back in favour after a stunning season for Bath where he returned to his best ever for. And he knows he has a better chance than ever to stamp his authority on the No.12 jersey with Wilko back at home.

There's suggestions this England line-up doesn't have enough beef to front up to the All Blacks - although the likes of Sheridan, Steve Borthwick and James Haskell, among others, would suggest otherwise. But the exciting factors about the line-up is that the Premiership's form men have been selected plus there is a sense of the unknown about England. Ok, it might all go horribly wrong and England may well get trounced by their hosts but, whatever the outcome, the youthful look is the right way forward as England start the long route towards the 2011 World Cup.

Do you agree with the England line-up for the All Blacks Test? We want to hear your comments so post them below...

Comments

[syd]

tait has to play he has pace and power tindall is excellant allways plays well but does not have the pace of tait does anyone topsy ojo not convinced? looking forward to sat

[STeve]

Two things to write about, first of all the comment from fletch, shane geraghty isnt in te squad becaue hes injured.
also, i think that having olly barkley at 12 gives a great line of defense and a wall of muscle with barkley and tindall. i think that Tait is a very talented player and has outstanding running lines, but tindall brings alot more power including a good amount of pace into the game, however i would love to see tait on the field in the second half. my ideas for the starting XV on sat is
1.sheridan
2.mears
3.stevens
4.borthwick(C)
5.Palmer/Kennedy
6.rees
7.haskell
8.Narraway
9.Wigglesworth
10.Hodgson (as cipriani and wilko are injured)
11.strettle
12.barkley/flood
13.Tindall/Noon
14.Ojo
15.Brown

16.payne
17.hartley
18.kennedy/palmer
19.croft
20.Lamb
21.tait/noon
22.flood

[gary]

After watching some super 14 games last season, I doubt this or any other England squad have the abilty to play at that pace for the full 80 minutes.

[Matt]

I agree. What must Mathew Tait do to start for England? His work rate is amazing and he has been englands best back in the last few games. Give the lad a chance to prove himself, he is the future for English rugby.

[Sarah]

Wow, we're gonna miss Cipriani. Could be painful viewing...

[Jik]

It's not so much the line-up that matters but the way they're going to play. I expect to get up early doors for the game and watch England's forwards trundling forward and their backs looking static. I really, really, really hope I'm wrong.

[Jik]

It's not so much the line-up that matters but the way they're going to play. I expect to get up early doors for the game and watch England's forwards trundling forward and their backs looking static. I really, really, really hope I'm wrong.

[Fletch]

Liking the new Gloucester midfield of Barkley and Tindall. Clearly Johnson's building a platform for the future.
Not sure I would have gone with Wigglesworth at nine though. What about Hodgson at London Irish, surely the form scrum-half of last season.

[GERRY]

SHANE GERAGHTY'S THE GLARING OMMISSIONS. HE AIN'T EVEN IN THE SQUAD. WHAT A DISGRACE!

[Eraz]

Not even sure Topsy Ojo's in my top ten wings in the premiership from last season let alone in the england starting line-up. let's just hope the selectors know what they're doing.

[Stuart Hutchinson]

What's the thinking about not including Mathew Tait, the best back in the English game right now. He can play at full-back or outside centre, he's strong and he's quick and he could beat the All Blacks at their own game.

The one saving grace is that he's on the bench so he might yet get a chance to prove himself. I hope he does. The kid's awesome.