Tindall, Cueto set for England recall - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Tindall, Cueto set for England recall

14/01/2009 08:20:05 AM Comments (0)

Martin Johnson is set to bring back some experienced faces in backs Mike Tindall and Mark Cueto when he names his revised 32-man England squad for the Six Nations in London on Wednesday.

Johnson went with a largely youthful squad during a November series where England were well-beaten at Twickenham by Australia before being thrashed by world champions South Africa and then New Zealand.

England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain repeatedly insisted he had no alternative but, having fielded six debutants in November, including four in the same match, the former lock now appears set to redress a perceived imbalance in the make-up of his side.

Tindall, a World Cup-winning teammate of Johnson, has been in good form for Gloucester of late as has Sale winger Cueto, a member of the England side that lost the 2007 World Cup final to the Springboks in Paris.

Cueto, who has scored five tries in his last four games and has a Test record of 13 in 24, believes he is back to the sort of form which first saw him capped by England in 2004.

"Things have been going well. The tries have started to come back," said Cueto. "I am really happy how I am playing at the moment.

"The form I have showed over the last four to six weeks is a lot more like my old form that got me in the England squad in the first place. With a bit of luck I might be given another opportunity."

Under the complex agreement between the Rugby Football Union and England's 12 Premiership clubs, Johnson can make five form-induced changes to the squad he originally selected on July 1 as well as filling gaps left by retirements and injuries.

World Cup-winner Josh Lewsey called time on his England career after being overlooked during the November series while his Wasps teammate Tom Palmer is out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury.

Fellow Wasp Tom Rees is set to miss at least England's first three matches in the Six Nations and the flanker's absence could open the door to an international return for Leicester's Lewis Moody.

Meanwhile back-row Steffon Armitage, whose brother Delon was one of England's few success stories in November after making his Test debut at fullback, is also pressing hard for a call-up after starring for London Irish.

England haven't won the Six Nations Championship since 2003, although they did finish second last year despite losing two of their five matches.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news