ENGLAND NAME VAINIKOLO IN SIX NATIONS SQUAD BUT DROP LEWSEY AND FARRELL
Lesley Vainikolo was the surprise inclusion in Brian Ashton's 32-man training squad ahead of the Six Nations. The former New Zealand rugby league international only crossed codes from Bradford Bulls to Gloucester rugby in September. On his debut, on September 16 against Leeds Carnegie, the powerful winger scored a record five tries.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, has played less than ten games for Gloucester, however he is preferred over World Cup winner Josh Lewsey.
The Wasps winger and full-back was one of a number of notable absentees in Ashton's squad, named at Twickenham on Wednesday. Lewsey missed out on a chance to repeat England's 2003 heroics against Australia - where he starred in the World Cup Final - in the recent tournament in France.
His injury in the semi-final against France cruelly ruled him out of the Final against South Africa, which England lost 15-6. The Boks' coach, Jake White, had controversially suggested that Lewsey would have scored Mark Cueto's disallowed try.
But Lewsey, 31, may have played his last game for the Red Rose as Ashton, 61, looks to the future. Andy Farrell - another rugby league experiment - has also been dropped from the squad. The 32-year-old centre looks to have paid the price for a disappointing World Cup.
Olly Barkley, 26, is another World Cup member to have been culled - perhaps as punishment for his damning assessment of Ashton's coaching techniques.
With four England captains - Laurence Dallaglio, Mike Catt, Jason Robinson and Martin Corry - recently announcing their international retirement, it's out with the old and in with the new; though 32-year-old prop Phil Vickery retains the captaincy.
There had been some suggestions that 29-year-old centre Mike Tindall, who missed out on the trip to France as he was been unfit, would be skipper. He is simply awarded a call-up.
Wasps back-rowers Tom Rees, 23, and James Haskell, 22, are included, as well as Leicester No6, 22-year-old Tom Croft, as are a number of young backs. Twenty-year-old fly-half Danny Cipriani - who many pundits think should start ahead of Jonny Wilkinson - joins Sale Sharks scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, 24, utility-back Toby Flood, 22, and winger David Strettle, 24.
Though the squad will be trimmed to 22 ahead of England first Six Nations game against Wales at Twickenham on February 2, Ashton's statement of intent is clear: youth will be the driving force for the Red Rose.
Lesley Vainikolo was the surprise inclusion in Brian Ashton's 32-man training squad ahead of the Six Nations. The former New Zealand rugby league international only crossed codes from Bradford Bulls to Gloucester rugby in September. On his debut, on September 16 against Leeds Carnegie, the powerful winger scored a record five tries.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, has played less than ten games for Gloucester, however he is preferred over World Cup winner Josh Lewsey.
The Wasps winger and full-back was one of a number of notable absentees in Ashton's squad, named at Twickenham on Wednesday. Lewsey missed out on a chance to repeat England's 2003 heroics against Australia - where he starred in the World Cup Final - in the recent tournament in France.
His injury in the semi-final against France cruelly ruled him out of the Final against South Africa, which England lost 15-6. The Boks' coach, Jake White, had controversially suggested that Lewsey would have scored Mark Cueto's disallowed try.
But Lewsey, 31, may have played his last game for the Red Rose as Ashton, 61, looks to the future. Andy Farrell - another rugby league experiment - has also been dropped from the squad. The 32-year-old centre looks to have paid the price for a disappointing World Cup.
Olly Barkley, 26, is another World Cup member to have been culled - perhaps as punishment for his damning assessment of Ashton's coaching techniques.
With four England captains - Laurence Dallaglio, Mike Catt, Jason Robinson and Martin Corry - recently announcing their international retirement, it's out with the old and in with the new; though 32-year-old prop Phil Vickery retains the captaincy.
There had been some suggestions that 29-year-old centre Mike Tindall, who missed out on the trip to France as he was been unfit, would be skipper. He is simply awarded a call-up.
Wasps back-rowers Tom Rees, 23, and James Haskell, 22, are included, as well as Leicester No6, 22-year-old Tom Croft, as are a number of young backs. Twenty-year-old fly-half Danny Cipriani - who many pundits think should start ahead of Jonny Wilkinson - joins Sale Sharks scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, 24, utility-back Toby Flood, 22, and winger David Strettle, 24.
Though the squad will be trimmed to 22 ahead of England first Six Nations game against Wales at Twickenham on February 2, Ashton's statement of intent is clear: youth will be the driving force for the Red Rose.
