Ashton makes the most of slim pickings

With over thirty top players unavailable for selection, England coach Brian Ashton has been forced to pick a mish-mash of old soldiers, young bucks and late bloomers for the forthcoming two-Test tour of South Africa.

Sale Sharks veteran Jason Robinson will captain the “interesting mixture” that will face the Springboks in Bloemfontein on May 26 and in Pretoria on June 2.

Ashton was forced to rule out players from Leicester, Wasps or Bath due to the three clubs being involved in European finals during the weekend before for the Test in Bloemfontein.

Perpignan prop Perry Freshwater was not considered because of French Championship commitments, while Mike Catt, Mark Cueto, Charlie Hodgson, Olly Morgan, Mike Tindall, Andrew Sheridan, James Forrester and Dan Ward-Smith make up the eight players not considered through injury.

Bristol’s 35-year-old hooker Mark Regan duly makes the grade, emerging from international retirement almost three years after his last England appearance, and there is a recall for Saracens prop Kevin Yates.

Regan and Robinson are joined by fellow 2003 Rugby World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Gomarsall and Ben Cohen.

Wilkinson missed Newcastle’s final Guinness Premiership game of the season last weekend due to a rib cartilage injury, but he looks likely to start in the first Test.

Highly-rated London Irish back Shane Geraghty, meanwhile, has not played since March 24 because of injury and it has been agreed he will feature in the England Saxons squad for this month’s Churchill Cup.

The uncapped contingent of seven players comprises Gloucester prop Nick Wood, Bristol prop Darren Crompton and forward Roy Winters, Saracens hooker Matt Cairns, Sale Sharks lock Dean Schofield, Gloucester flank Peter Buxton and NEC Harlequins full-back Mike Brown.

The fact that England will tour without so many leading players – Phil Vickery, Martin Corry, Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey, Julian White, Danny Grewcock, Steve Borthwick, Simon Shaw, George Chuter, Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody to name but a few – has inevitably drawn comparisons with their so-called ‘tour from hell’ of 1998.

England played seven games in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, losing the lot, which included a record 76-0 drubbing at the hands of the Wallabies.

But Ashton is looking forward to the challenge of quickfire appointments with England’s pivotal 2007 Rugby World Cup pool opponents, ahead of their Paris showdown later this year.

“If you look at some of the experienced characters as well as some of the younger players who have recently appeared on the international scene it’s an interesting mixture,” said Ashton.

“It’s going to be an enormous challenge for these players. We are under no illusions – it is going to be an incredibly tough two-and-a-half weeks but I don’t expect any of the players or management to back down from that challenge.”

Robinson took over as skipper when Catt went off during England’s Six Nations Championship finale against Wales in March, while he also led his country for part of Andy Robinson’s coaching reign.

“Jason has captained England before, and we need someone with international captaincy experience,” said Ashton.

“He is well respected by all the other players, and he proved in the Six Nations that he was back to his top form again.”

Robinson added: “I am delighted to be appointed captain of England again for the forthcoming games in South Africa.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my previous spell as captain, and I am looking forward to the trip as I have never played there before.”

Robinson is one of only three tourists who featured in the XV that faced Wales in the Six Nations, the others being David Strettle and Toby Flood.

England squad for tour of South Africa:

Forwards: Alex Brown (Gloucester), Peter Buxton (Gloucester), Darren Crompton (Bristol), Andy Hazell (Gloucester), Nick Easter (NEC Harlequins), Chris Jones (Sale Sharks), Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks), Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks), Andy Titterrell (Sale Sharks), Mark Regan (Bristol), Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks), Matt Cairns (Saracens), Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors), Roy Winters (Bristol), Nick Wood (Gloucester), Kevin Yates (Saracens).

Backs: Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins), Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints), Andy Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), Andy Gomarsall (NEC Harlequins), Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Shaun Perry (Bristol), Pete Richards (Gloucester), Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks, captain), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), David Strettle (NEC Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons).

Not considered because of injury: Mike Catt (London Irish, lower back/hamstring), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks, left calf), James Forrester (Gloucester, right knee), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks, right knee), Olly Morgan (Gloucester, right shoulder), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks, left knee), Mike Tindall (Gloucester, right leg), Dan Ward-Smith (Bristol, left knee).

Not considered because of club commitments: Players from London Wasps and Leicester Tigers (Heineken Cup finalists), Bath Rugby (European Challenge Cup finalists) and Perry Freshwater (Perpignan).