Tindall misses out as Ashton names 30
Tindall is perhaps the highest-profile casualty of Ashton's selections
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Monday, 13, Aug 2007 10:32
Brian Ashton has named his 30-man squad for England's defence of the Rugby World Cup in France, but there was no place in the squad for 2003 winner Mike Tindall.
Along with Tindall, who broke his leg seven months ago and has not played since, Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson is another high-profile casualty as the training squad was whittled down from 38 today.
Hodgson was also a member of the squad four years ago and understudy to star man Jonny Wilkinson but he too has been plagued by injury this season.
Flanker James Haskell is also unfortunate to miss the cut, along with Wasps team-mates Danny Cipriani and Tom Palmer; Bath's Nick Abendanon; Newcastle's Toby Flood; and Kevin Yates of Saracens.
Phil Vickery has been named captain for the tournament and leads a first-class pack which includes front rows Andrew Sheridan and Matt Stevens; locks Steve Borthwick, Martin Corry and Simon Shaw; and number eight Nick Easter.
Another 2003 veteran, Lawrence Dallaglio, is included after an excellent season as captain of Heineken Cup winners Wasps along with back row team-mates Joe Worsley and Tom Rees.
In the backs, promising Leicester youngster Dan Hipkiss is included, as are 2003 veterans Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey and Mike Catt, who is the oldest member of the squad at 36.
Wilkinson, who kicked the winning points in Australia, is expected to start at fly-half with Olly Barkley named as his understudy after Flood was cut.
Flood's Newcastle club-mate Jamie Noon is included along with another Falcons man Mathew Tait and rugby league convert Andy Farrell in what was a competitive race for selection in the centres.
Andy Gomarsall of Harlequins, Shaun Perry of Bristol and Peter Richards of London Irish are named as England's three scrum-halves.
On his selections, head coach Ashton said: "I've had to make some very difficult decisions in reducing the training squad to 30.
"I'd like to thank all 47 members of the original squad who all put in a tremendous amount of effort into their work with us and their attitude throughout has been first class.
"I spoke to each of the players who would not be involved in the final 30 yesterday and they were all obviously very disappointed not be included but I stressed to each of them that they could be invited back if a member of the squad suffers an injury either before or during the World Cup.
"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 World Cup pool games as part of their rehab.
"Both of them have done everything that has been asked of them and I wish them both well with their return to their clubs and the other players who have not made the final 30."
England open their World Cup defence against the United States on September 8th, before further pool A games against Samoa and South Africa ahead of the knockout rounds begin on October 6th.
Full 30-man England squad for Rugby World Cup:
Forwards:
Phil Vickery (Wasps, captain), George Chuter (Leicester), Lee Mears (Bath), Mark Regan (Bristol), Perry Freshwater (Perpignan), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Matt Stevens (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Bath), Martin Corry (Leicester), Ben Kay (Leicester), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tom Rees (Wasps), Joe Worsley (Wasps).
Backs:
Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Josh Lewsey (Wasps), Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks), Paul Sackey (Wasps), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Mathew Tait (Newcastle), Olly Barkley (Bath), Mike Catt (London Irish), Andy Farrell (Saracens), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins), Shaun Perry (Bristol), Peter Richards (London Irish).