England turn to experience for RWC
Lawrence Dallaglio is one of eight survivors of the Rugby World Cup 2003 final to be named in England coach Brian Ashton’s 30-man squad to defend the Webb Ellis Cup in France next month.
Dallaglio, who made his first start for England in three years against France on Saturday – a day after his 35th birthday, is joined by Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Phil Vickery, Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey, Mike Catt and Jonny Wilkinson.
Martin Corry was an unused replacement in the final, while Mark Regan, Joe Worsley and Andy Gomarsall also played in the earlier rounds in 2003. Simon Shaw was called up as a replacement, but did not play any matches in the tournament.
Rugby World Cup 2007 will be the fourth tournament for Catt, equalling the quartet of appearances by Jason Leonard between 1991 and 2003, not to mention one at which he will celebrate his 36th birthday between the decisive South Africa and Samoa encounters.
Time runs out for Hodgson and Tindall
The tournament – in which England have been drawn in Pool A alongside the Springboks, Samoa, Tonga and USA – also marks the third World Cups for captain Vickery, Wilkinson, Dallaglio, Corry and Worsley.
There is no place in the squad though for either fly half Charlie Hodgson or World Cup winning centre Mike Tindall, the pair having run out of time to regain match fitness after a knee injury and broken leg respectively.
“Mike Tindall has worked very hard to recover from his injury and he was running last week, but it was agreed by the coaches that he and Charlie Hodgson, who is fit but like Mike has not played top level rugby for a number of months, could not use the final warm up Test or the RWC pool games as part of their rehab,” explained Ashton.
Rugby league convert Andy Farrell did make the cut, as does his fellow centre Dan Hipkiss after making his England debut in the 62-5 record defeat of Wales at Twickenham on 4 August and number 8 Nick Easter, the four-try hero that day.
England have one more Test – against France in Marseille on Saturday – before opening their World Cup campaign against the USA Eagles in Lens on 8 September.
England squad:
Forwards: Steve Borthwick, George Chuter, Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio, Nick Easter, Perry Freshwater, Ben Kay, Lee Mears, Lewis Moody, Tom Rees, Mark Regan, Simon Shaw, Andrew Sheridan, Matt Stevens, Phil Vickery (Captain), Joe Worsley.
Backs: Olly Barkley, Mike Catt, Mark Cueto, Andy Farrell, Andy Gomarsall, Dan Hipkiss, Josh Lewsey, Jamie Noon, Shaun Perry, Peter Richards, Jason Robinson, Paul Sackey, Mathew Tait, Jonny Wilkinson.
