Johnson set to recall old hands
Martin Johnson is expected to inject some much-needed experience into the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations by recalling Gloucester centre Mike Tindall (right) and Sale winger Mark Cueto.
Johnson will announce his revised 32-man elite squad at Twickenham tomorrow morning and it is also set to include Gloucester’s in-form full-back Olly Morgan.
Tindall was relegated to the Saxons squad after a disappointing summer tour to New Zealand while Cueto has not been seen in an England shirt since the 2007 World Cup final.
But they have both returned to form at the ideal time to help Johnson bridge a perceived generation gap that exists at the top end of England rugby.
Johnson’s policy when he took over ahead of the autumn internationals was to blood a new team and he fielded a total of six debutants during November, including four in the same match.
England’s inexperience was exposed by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and the lack of leadership support for captain Steve Borthwick was a concerning theme throughout the campaign.
In Tindall, Johnson has recalled a World Cup-winning team-mate while Leicester flanker Lewis Moody is also vying for a return to the frame after overcoming an Achilles problem.
Cueto has scored five tries in four games for Sale and believes he is back to the kind of form that first earned him an England call-up under Andy Robinson in 2004.
“Things have been going well. The tries have started to come back,” said Cueto, who has scored 13 tries in 24 Tests.
“I am really happy how I am playing at the moment. I would love to be back involved.
“The form I have showed over last four to six weeks is a lot more like my old form that got me in the England squad in the first place. With a bit of luck I might be given another opportunity.”
Under the terms of England’s complex agreement with the Guinness Premiership clubs, Johnson can make five form-driven changes to the squad he originally selected on July 1 and fill any gaps left by injuries or retirements.
Josh Lewsey hung up his England boots after being overlooked for the November internationals while his Wasps club-mate Tom Palmer is out for the tournament with a shoulder injury.
Wasps flanker Tom Rees faces two months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage and will miss at least the first three matches, which could open the door for Moody.
Johnson may also feel England can no longer overlook London Irish tyro Steffan Armitage, who has been in destructive form for the Exiles this season.
England will have to create room for Tindall’s inclusion in the midfield and that could come at the expense of Dan Hipkiss, who is currently carrying a hamstring injury, or possibly Olly Barkley.
England are well stocked at full-back with Morgan joining Delon Armitage, who will be confirmed as an official member of the squad, while Ben Foden has made a late challenge for inclusion.
The bemusing nature of the agreement means that Armitage, Nick Easter and Ugo Monye were only technically attached to the squad in the autumn as injury cover despite playing in all four Tests.
Johnson’s decision to select Morgan and Cueto could mean James Simpson-Daniel drops out of the squad after another injury-ravaged season.





