Johnson, Marler debut for England
7 Jun 2012
Flank Tom Johnson and prop Joe Marler will play their first Test when England face South Africa in Durban on Saturday.
There could also be a debut for utility back Jonathan Joseph, who is named among the substitutes. In changes to the run-on side from their last Six Nations Test against Ireland, Marler replaces Alex Corbisiero at loosehead and Johnson comes in for Tom Croft at blindside.
In the back division, scrumhalf Ben Youngs ousts Lee Dickson, who drops to the bench, while in the back three Mike Brown’s inclusion at fullback sees Ben Foden move to the left wing, with David Strettle out of the 22 altogether. Brown’s inclusion is a clear indication that England expect to be bombarded with tactical kicks, the Harlequins man’s aerial ability and counter-attacking ability seen as key.
Meanwhile Owen Farrell starts at flyhalf ahead of Toby Flood, the latter playing off the wood. Home town boy Brad Barritt starts at inside centre and Manu Tuilagi has had no recurrence of the injury that sidelined him until Monday, and starts at No 13.
Speaking about the debutants England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: ‘Tom and Joe have had great seasons at their clubs and have worked really hard to get this chance, both are in great form and have really impressed in training.’
He added: ‘Equally, Mike Brown has been outstanding for Harlequins. By moving Ben Foden to the wing we retain his strike power and aerial skills and can utilise not only Mike’s attacking and defensive assets we can also call on his left footed kicking game.’
England - 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Paul Doran Jones, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Jonathan Joseph
272 Comments
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7 Jun 2012, 17:24 pm
What a traitor Barritt is! I hope Frans uses him as a speed bump on the way to the tryline! Disgusted at the sight of seeing Barritt playing for the Poms!
7 Jun 2012, 17:24 pm
@hensopper1(hensopper1)-246: At times the French 8 also “plays to the ball” as we understand the openside/fetcher role leading to the comment about 3 opensides I suppose. The fact the flanks scrum same side all match may lead one to think 2 openside flanks. I also think the way the French scrum makes more sense to cohesion. I feel that the openside only comes into play outside the scrum, as the team can have different attacking options at the scrum opposed to the rucks.
7 Jun 2012, 17:33 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-247: Absolutely Jinx. We disregard the power of our voices though. The immense pressure fans can put on a coach to keep winning even when they see his logic in rotation or totally replacing a player can be numbing. Even Nick Mallett felt the pressure to keep winning yet he set a SA record for most wins on the trot. Carel was vilified during his totally logical approach to transforming our game. Every coach since Andre Markgraaff changed the way they coached from when they started. Why would HM be different? I hope he WILL be but what if he’s NOT?
7 Jun 2012, 17:33 pm
@Sydney Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-251:
The national coaching setup failed Barritt. If this was Australia or New Zealand he would have been given a chance ahead of Wynand Olivier , Meyer Bosman and Adi Jacobs. Also didn’t help that the Jean Div / Jaque Fourie combo was going strong when he was playing well.
7 Jun 2012, 17:44 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-254: You are totally correct.
7 Jun 2012, 17:45 pm
everyone is pushing the point that England only lost 1 game during the 6N, but lets not forget that they squeaked out of trouble against Scotland and Italy (!) courtesy of two fortuitous Charlie Hodgsen charge down tries… hardly convincing stuff.
7 Jun 2012, 17:45 pm
@hensopper1(hensopper1)-246:
Knowledgeable poster…Very good.
Respect… (along with WillieVS, CoachPete and a couple of others – the Keo “Coach” Proper Rugger Loving technical Debate Brigade…)
7 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
@Sydney Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-251: Don’t be an idiot. The guy was never going to make a Bok side, so he headed of to England, worked hard and eventually made the English side. These guys are professionals – this is how they make their living.
Are you going to say now to a job opportunity in Sydney or London?
At least he never bad mouthed his country of origin like some of our other ex-countrymen
7 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
now = no
7 Jun 2012, 18:08 pm
Heavens Game.
Cheers mate, love the chat here! Some posters real aggro, maybe a few Karatewaters influenced!
Finfan.
Tight curley dark hair. A grafting beast of a man. Sadly passed away fairlyrecently. The unsung hero many a Blue Bulls and Bok pack. Dont think the smile muscels on his face worked. I believe his English was’nt very delicous, prompting Rob Louw to ‘help’ him by telling him that condom was the word for headache tablet when he was in a pharmacy in New Zealand in 81.
Louw must have been an incredibly brave man. I think Mools had more of a far
Northern Transvaal Bosveld humour about that type of thing.
7 Jun 2012, 18:16 pm
@hensopper1(hensopper1)-260: Put my hand up… Karatewater central.
But respect certain true rugger lovers and nonebullshitter types…
7 Jun 2012, 18:34 pm
Nothing wrong with KarateWater. Nothing at all,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
7 Jun 2012, 19:04 pm
What’s this an Eben love-in
7 Jun 2012, 19:14 pm
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-135:
I’ll arrange it then!
7 Jun 2012, 19:17 pm
@STBUR(STBUR)-206:
I can guarantee you I’ve seen every S15 game he’s played in this season, and I still think he’ll be sorely missed.
8 Jun 2012, 01:56 am
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-254: Barritt lifted the IRB Nations Cup for the Emerging Springboks but they weren’t registered as SA’s second team so he was able to transfer his allegiance. Good player and he won’t be a speedbump for anyone.
8 Jun 2012, 02:30 am
@Sydney Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-251:
That’s a bit rich coming from an ex-pat living in Sydney and pledging allegiance to an Australian company innit?
Good on Brad and Mouritz… they gave it a shot in RSA… and then moved on for more opportunity…
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-266:
Definitely not… he can get his back-line away quite nicely and is huge on defence… from Waylon Murray to Tuilagi on his outside…
Well worth a punt for you mate… bookies had England @$3.65 at one stage!
8 Jun 2012, 05:36 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-267: I will never support Aus or any other country over the Springboks as long as I’m still breathing!!! I want nothing more than a strong brand of rugby to emerge from SA in the coming months and years and I know how to sing my anthem properly which is more than could be said about some of the Aussies and Kiwis!
8 Jun 2012, 06:01 am
@Sydney Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-268:
I think you missing the point…
8 Jun 2012, 08:07 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-269:
Yep…
8 Jun 2012, 11:29 am
@Sydney Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-268: Whats singing a national anthem got to do with watching a game of rugby? If you want to sing, then sing. If you want to sing properly then sing properly. Me, I want to see the best of my country beat the best of another country. I’ll do my singing later on at the bar after we’ve won.
8 Jun 2012, 13:05 pm
What is lancaster thinking in selecting ben on the wing.mike is good on hIgh balls only his running lines are not convincing for me
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