Martin Johnson’s first act as the new supremo of England’s rugby squad has been to drop three of the men he played with in the 2003 World Cup-winning squad.
Center Mike Tindall and forwards Ben Kay and Joe Worsley failed to make it into the first 32-man elite squad named by Johnson since he took up the role of national team manager in the wake of last month’s troubled tour of New Zealand.
The squad will provide the bulk of the players who will represent England in November Tests against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and next year’s Six Nations campaign.
Under a new agreement between the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership clubs, England will be able to insist on players in the elite squad being released for international duty on specified dates, starting with a five-day training camp next month.
Tindall, Kay and Worsley have been relegated to the second string Saxons while no fewer than 13 members of the squad that lost both of last month’s Tests against the All Blacks miss out on Johnson’s first senior selection.
Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson, who endured a torrid time in New Zealand, did not even make it into the Saxons squad.
Johnson admitted the tame performances in New Zealand had influenced his thinking.
“I don’t think there is a tougher task than going to play New Zealand away,” he said.
“What did we find out? Some of the players stood up and competed well and I think we found out something about everyone who went on that tour, and that is factored in to the squad we have named today,” Johnson said. “We were beaten in those two matches by a very good New Zealand team. We have to compete with them and become a better rugby team.”
The New Zealand tour was overshadowed by allegations of a serious sexual assault involving four England players and Johnson said members of the new squad would be reminded of their responsibilities in terms of conduct.
“A lot has been spoken about that after New Zealand. When we get together in August it will be one of the first things we discuss and the players will be under no illusions as to where responsibilities lie,” he said.
Johnson said discipline was right at the top of his agenda.
“If all players in English, British rugby haven’t learned a lesson from what’s gone on they will never learn a lesson,” he said.
“We will address the issues. The behavior things we are talking about — the late nights and females in hotels — are important,” Johnson said.
“There are certain things that will be non-negotiable, but there are other things you want the players to agree with and want themselves. You can write down a code of conduct on a piece of paper, but the guys need to have a set of behaviors they adhere to within a team,” he said.
There are four uncapped players in Johnson’s group, including New Zealand Maori international Riki Flutey, who will be eligible to play for England from September having satisfied residency requirements.
The other newcomers are Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy and Leicester back-row forward Jordan Crane.
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