Under pressure?

Martin Johnson gets a final look at his England squad tomorrow before he has to select his squad of 30 for New Zealand. So, let’s take a look at who’s under pressure:

Manu Tuilagi’s strong performance at outside centre last week should see him make Johnson’s final 30. His ability to break the first tackle in attack and shuddering tackling in defence gives England’s midfield some much needed dynamism. I do question Tuilagi’s composure though (he tends to rush up in defence a little too quickly and therefore misses tackles and he very nearly floored Shane Williams with a dangerously high tackle) so he will need to be surrounded by level-headed colleagues. Jonny Wilkinson is one such player and Mike Tindall (captain tomorrow) is another so both should be on the plane. Ricky Flutey combined well with Wilkinson and Tuilagi last week and, combined with his ability to play fly half, should be in the 30. That leaves Shontayne Hape and Matt Banahan as the two players under most pressure. As much as I don’t feel Banahan has the pace off the mark or skill to succeed at international level, he did give the England forwards a target going forward. Banahan’s ability to play on the wing may just see him pip Hape to a place in the final 30.

In the front row, Matt Stevens made a terrific return to international rugby. He totally destroyed a (somewhat weak) Welsh front row, setting up James Haskell’s try from the base of the scrum. Although Haskell scored, Stevens should certainly get the credit. (As an aside, I hope Haskell got fined for his ridiculous celebration – plopping over the line from three metres did not warrant such histrionics!). Paul Doran-Jones and Tim Payne have not featured in either match so are likely to miss out on a final place in the squad. Given that Johnson is likely to choose five props due to Andrew Sheridan’s continued recovery from injury, David Wilson is therefore likely to fill the fifth spot. Dylan Hartley had a quiet match last week but that’s no bad thing. His lineout throwing was very solid – a weakness in the past – and he scrummaged well alongside Stevens. Steve Thompson has a chance to put some pressure on Hartley for a place in Johnson’s starting XV and along with Lee Mears will keep competition for the number two slot strong.

Delon Armitage also played well last week at full back. He was very solid under the high ball and ran well from deep. His ability to simply ghost around players gives the England attack another dimension. Given that he can cover outside centre as well as full back means his place in the squad is secure. This week, Johnson gives a chance to his first choice back three of Ben Foden, Mark Cueto and Chris Ashton to see what they can do. Foden, in particular, will want to re-affirm that he’s Johnson’s first choice full back. Charlie Sharples looked very much at home in his short spell on the pitch last week and given that Ugo Monye has not been picked for each game means the Harlequins winger is likely to be the one to miss out.

At scrum half, Danny Care looked off the pace last week and was outplayed by Richard Wigglesworth, who kicked well from the base and delivered a speedier service to Wilkinson (and Charlie Hodgson very late in the game – what was the point of that?). Wigglesworth gets a chance to start at number nine this week and looks set to be on the plane given that Wasps’ Joe Simpson has yet to feature in either warm-up match. Although Care was off the pace, he’s likely to still make the squad alongside Ben Youngs who’s still recovering from knee surgery. At fly half, Wilkinson’s man of the match performance last week still proves he’s still got what it takes at international level (was there any doubt?) and it’s over to Toby Flood to put the pressure back on Wilkinson for a spot in the starting XV.

Simon Shaw’s experience in the second row should see him make the plane ahead of Louis Deacon. However, Deacon did play quite well in the Six Nations so has a chance to prove a point to Johnson this week. Tom Palmer provided a solid platform in the lineout last week, so his place in the squad looks secure alongside Courtney Lawes. As I said last week, Tom Croft’s ability to play in the second row means that Johnson will probably be able to afford to take just three specialist locks. Johnson will be concerned about the injury to captain Lewis Moody and it will be interesting to see how Hendre Fourie plays this week. The question Johnson needs to ask himself is whether a less-than-100% Moody is worth a place in his squad. I believe he is, which means Tom Woods’ place in the squad is safe. Woods has a chance to combine with the experienced Nick Easter in the back row this week and both will need to be at their best to combat the excellent Welsh open side Sam Warburton.

A prediction for tomorrow I hear you cry? Wales have plenty to prove and I expect their centres Jamie Roberts and Gavin Henson to outplay Hape and Tindall. However, given Wales’ inability to provide a solid platform at scrum time last week, the Welsh backs may not really get a chance to cut loose. Expect England to dominate up front, Wigglesworth to kick from the base for Ashton and Cueto to chase and Foden to counter-attack at every opportunity. The atmosphere is bound to be electric – let’s hope the rugby is too.

My squad of 30 at 12 August contains three changes from the squad I would have picked last week:

Props (5)

Cole
Corbisiero
Wilson
Sheridan
Stevens

Hookers (3)

Hartley
Mears
Thompson

Locks (3)

Lawes
Palmer
Shaw

Back row (5)

Croft
Easter
Haskell
Moody
Wood

Scrum halves (3)

Care
Wigglesworth
Youngs

Fly halves (2)

Flood
Wilkinson

Centres (4)

Banahan
Flutey
Tindall
Tuilagi

Wings (3)

Ashton
Cueto
Sharples

Full backs (2)

Armitage
Foden