RUGBY NEWS:NEW ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson yesterday named six uncapped players in a 32-man squad for next month's two-Test tour of New Zealand, his first selection since taking over from the former coach Brian Ashton.
The London Irish trio of Nick Kennedy, David Paice and Topsy Ojo were included for the first time alongside Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care, Bristol prop Jason Hobson and hooker Dylan Hartley of Northampton.
Lock Steve Borthwick will captain the side in the absence of prop Phil Vickery, who is recovering from a knee ligament injury.
Outhalf Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out last month and requires shoulder surgery.
The list of medical absentees includes such established internationals as Josh Lewsey, Simon Shaw and Lewis Moody, while leading tour contenders such as James Simpson-Daniel and Shane Geraghty face summer shoulder surgery.
But the Gloucester backs Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo - regular, if debatable, Six Nations selections under Ashton this season - have been overlooked.
Johnson's contract does not begin until July 1st and he will stay in England with his pregnant wife throughout the June tour.
"Would I like to be out there? Of course I would, but circumstances are what they are," Johnson told a press conference at Twickenham.
"It's awkward not being there and it's not ideal but I will get updated on all the day-to-day issues that happen and (will be involved) with selection obviously.
"There has never been a bad All Black team in the history of the game," Johnson said when asked whether New Zealand would be weakened by their policy of not selecting foreign-based players.
"It's all about (our) attitude. Playing New Zealand in New Zealand is one of the most difficult things to do in rugby. If we get ourselves organised and perform to the level near where we think this squad can perform we'll be competitive."
ENGLAND (squad v New Zealand):
Backs:M Brown (Harlequins), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), D Cipriani (Wasps), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale), P Richards (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins).
Forwards:A Sheridan (Sale), T Payne (Wasps), M Stevens (Bath), J Hobson (Bristol), L Mears (Bath), D Hartley (Northampton), D Paice (London Irish), S Borthwick (Bath, capt), B Kay (Leicester), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Palmer (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Narraway (Gloucester).
