England turned to a raft of new names as caretaker coach Stuart. Lancaster discarded several high-profile players when he named a fresh-faced squad that will aim to repair the team’s bruised reputation.
The experienced Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto were among those omitted from the 32-man elite player squad as England seek to put behind them a dismal World Cup campaign dogged by scandal and defend their Six Nations title next month.
Nine uncapped players were selected, as well as four who have one cap, with the squad featuring 13 changes from last year’s World Cup trip to New Zealand that ended with a quarter-final defeat by France.
«It’s about a new era for English rugby,» Lancaster told a news conference at the team’s temporary training base in Leeds.
«Hopefully, with the selection that we’ve done we’ve picked a side that’s exciting, talented and that’s going to be committed to getting us back where we want to be at the top of the game.»
Among the uncapped arrivals were Owen Farrell, son of former international and current assistant coach Andy, and Ben Morgan, the Scarlets number eight who turned down an approach from Wales.
Also new are Lee Dickson, Jordan Turner-Hall, Phil Dowson, Calum Clark, Joe Marler, Brad Barritt and Rob Webber.
Flankers Tom Wood and Chris Robshaw, who has one cap, are widely considered to be vying for the captaincy but Lancaster said he would make that decision nearer the first match.
«My views on captaincy are .. the most important thing for me is to get the leadership group,» said Lancaster, who has been given charge of the team for the Six Nations while England seek a permanent replacement for Martin Johnson.
«There is a group of leaders that have left this squad and there is a new group that needs to step up and take the lead,» he said.
Among the departed are Tindall, who was dropped from the squad as punishment for off-field misdemeanours during the World Cup before being re-instated on appeal.
After the recent international retirements of Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody and Steve Thompson, his omission represents the final severing of any link with the 2003 World Cup-winning team.
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