English Rugby / / 01 July 2008 / 1 Comments

The Martin Johnson era began in earnest today as he named a 32 man elite training squad. The headlines will be made not by the players he has included, though, but the ones he has left out.

The biggest name to be shown the door is undoubtedly Mike Tindall. As one of England's most senior international players, the big man from the West Country was seen by many as an influential personality in the England set-up. He was also, of course, one of Johnson's colleagues during the successful period leading up to, and including, the triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign.

Another senior player omitted is Nick Easter who recently captained the side, though this is not hugely surprising for a player who has looked short of form and fitness, while David Strettle's non-inclusion may be in some part due to his rumoured involvement in the Auckland hotel incident.

Those three players can console themselves in the knowledge that they will be involved with England Saxons squad, which surely means they are being monitored for future squads. For Charlie Hodgson, though, there is no such solace and he may feel his last chance at this level has passed him by. Stuart Barnes certainly thinks so, as he told Betfair Radio recently. With Cipriani most likely relegated to the Saxons on fitness grounds, the inclusion of Shane Geraghty in the main squad does not bode well for the Sale man after he was so roundly criticised down under.

Players rewarded for good form on the English domestic scene include Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel, who are both recalled, and there are also places for Nick Kennedy and Luke Narraway, who escape the punishment meted out to Hodgson.

The most talked about inclusion, of course, is Wasps centre Riki Flutey. One of the key figures in the amazing success that was Wasps' Guinness Premiership play-off victory, he should be a roaring success at international level too. The question is whether he can win over the traditionalists and garner the affection from England fans he does at Adams Park. One would imagine that if he can produce a few sparkling performances in an England shirt, all but a stubborn few will soon forget he represented New Zealand at every age-group as well as NZ Maori.

Here are those squads in full. Has Johnson got it right? Post your comments below.

England elite squad:

Forwards: Tim Payne (Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Matt Stevens (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), George Chuter (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Lee Mears (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tom Rees (Wasps), Jordan Crane (Leicester), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).

Backs: Josh Lewsey (Wasps), Mathew Tait (Sale), Paul Sackey (Wasps), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Tom Varndell (Leicester), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Olly Barkley (Gloucester), Toby Flood (Leicester), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Shane Geraghty (London Irish), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Danny Care (Harlequins), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Pete Richards (London Irish).

England Saxons squad:

Forwards: Jack Forster (Gloucester), Jason Hobson (Bristol), David Wilson (Newcastle), Nick Wood (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Andy Titterrell (Gloucester), Joe Ward (Wasps), Richard Blaze (Leicester), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Chris Jones (Sale), Ben Kay (Leicester), George Skivington (Wasps), Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Michael Lipman (Bath), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Joe Worsley (Wasps).

Backs: Nick Abendanon (Bath), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Matt Banahan (Bath), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Dominic Waldouck (Wasps), Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Andy Goode (Leicester), Ryan Lamb (Gloucester), Ben Foden (Northampton), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale).

Tags: Charlie Hodgson, England Rugby, England Squad, Martin Johnson, Mike Tindall, Riki Flutey