Martin Johnson’s first act as the new supremo of England’s rugby squad has been to drop three of the men he played with in the 2003 World Cup-winning squad.
Center Mike Tindall and forwards Ben Kay and Joe Worsley failed to make it into the first 32-man elite squad named by Johnson since he took up the role of national team manager in the wake of last month’s troubled tour of New Zealand.
The squad will provide the bulk of the players who will represent England in November Tests against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and next year’s Six Nations campaign.
Under a new agreement between the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership clubs, England will be able to insist on players in the elite squad being released for international duty on specified dates, starting with a five-day training camp next month.
Tindall, Kay and Worsley have been relegated to the second string Saxons while no fewer than 13 members of the squad that lost both of last month’s Tests against the All Blacks miss out on Johnson’s first senior selection.
Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson, who endured a torrid time in New Zealand, did not even make it into the Saxons squad.
Johnson admitted the tame performances in New Zealand had influenced his thinking.
“I don’t think there is a tougher task than going to play New Zealand away,” he said.
“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,” Johnson said. “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.”
The New Zealand tour was overshadowed by allegations of a serious sexual assault involving four England players and Johnson said members of the new squad would be reminded of their responsibilities in terms of conduct.
“A lot has been spoken about that after New Zealand. When we get together in August it will be one of the first things we discuss and the players will be under no illusions as to where responsibilities lie,” he said.
Johnson said discipline was right at the top of his agenda.
“If all players in English, British rugby haven’t learned a lesson from what’s gone on they will never learn a lesson,” he said.
“We will address the issues. The behavior things we are talking about — the late nights and females in hotels — are important,” Johnson said.
“There are certain things that will be non-negotiable, but there are other things you want the players to agree with and want themselves. You can write down a code of conduct on a piece of paper, but the guys need to have a set of behaviors they adhere to within a team,” he said.
There are four uncapped players in Johnson’s group, including New Zealand Maori international Riki Flutey, who will be eligible to play for England from September having satisfied residency requirements.
The other newcomers are Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy and Leicester back-row forward Jordan Crane.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tomorrow for the final berth at next year's World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome yesterday. The home team's loss means that Nicaragua finishes No. 1 in the qualifier round held in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to the games. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier yesterday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, finished third, while South Africa placed at the bottom
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