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Ashton backs 'part-timers, plumbers and decorators'

Test matches: England boss Brian Ashton has backed his squad to tackle a job many believe is impossible - challenging the Springboks…

Wed May 23 2007 - 01:00

Test matches:England boss Brian Ashton has backed his squad to tackle a job many believe is impossible - challenging the Springboks in South Africa.

South African newspapers have already waded into Ashton's tourists - a 30-man party minus players from European finalists Leicester, Wasps and Bath - ahead of the two-Test series in Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

The inexperienced feel is reflected by Ashton's first Test line-up, which contains three newcomers in Mike Brown, Nick Wood and Dean Schofield, and has just 172 caps in total, with World Cup winners Jason Robinson, Jonny Wilkinson and Mark Regan sharing 131 of those.

"We know what the enormity of the challenge is - we've been told that enough in the press," said Ashton. "I think one paper called the squad a team of part-timers, plumbers and decorators.

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"The very fact we are playing South Africa means it will be a physical contest. We've just got to accept that and confront it, and find a way around it as well."

Meanwhile, England lock Danny Grewcock has been cited for allegedly punching Clermont Auvergne lock Thibault Private during Bath's Challenge Cup final defeat. The citing from Saturday's game was lodged by Italian match commissioner Achille Reali, but a date for the hearing has not yet been set.

Finally, Wales scrumhalf Andy Williams yesterday became the final member of Gareth Jenkins' touring party to arrive at their training base ahead of the two-Test series in Australia.

Williams appeared from the bench in Bath's match at the weekend and intends to make the most of his chance ahead of his switch to Newport-Gwent Dragons next season. His first opportunity could come in Saturday's opening Test in Sydney.

ENGLAND(v South Africa, Bloemfontein, Saturday): 15 M Brown, 14 D Strettle, 13 M Tait, 12 A Farrell, 11 J Robinson (capt), 10 J Wilkinson, 9 P Richards, 8-Nick Easter, 7 A Hazell, 6 C Jones, 5 A Brown, 4 D Schofield, 3 S Turner, 2 M Regan, 1 N Wood. Replacements:16 M Cairns, 17 D Crompton, 18 R Winters, 19 P Sanderson, 20 A Gomersall, 21 T Flood, 22 I Balshaw.