Blood & Mud

England team announced, no Iain Balshaw in sight

I have a recurring nightmare that, even though he has not been in the squad, Iain Balshaw will be named in the England team. Today is one more day where that nightmare does not come true, so thankyou for that Jonno.

The team that he has named is what the media like to call "experimental", but we here like to call "better than the usual parade of one-dimensional pap". The uncapped mob are Delon Armitage (at last); Riki Flutey (not playing as well as last year, but can at least pass); Ugo Monye (on fire for Quins); and Nick Kennedy (best lock in England for past 12 months).

Johnson has also had the good sense to listen to us and pick Danny Care at the expense of Harry Ellis. The only blob of SHIT on the otherwise pristine team-sheet is the name of Jamie Noon, who it seems is still getting away with it and it would interesting to know what he has on someone at the RFU for this to be the case.

Full team after the fold...

England team to play the Pacific Islanders

D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, captain), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Croft (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements D Hartley (Northampton), P Vickery (Wasps), T Palmer (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).

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Comments

England team announced, no Iain Balshaw in sight

I have a recurring nightmare that, even though he has not been in the squad, Iain Balshaw will be named in the England team. Today is one more day where that nightmare does not come true, so thankyou for that Jonno.

The team that he has named is what the media like to call "experimental", but we here like to call "better than the usual parade of one-dimensional pap". The uncapped mob are Delon Armitage (at last); Riki Flutey (not playing as well as last year, but can at least pass); Ugo Monye (on fire for Quins); and Nick Kennedy (best lock in England for past 12 months).

Johnson has also had the good sense to listen to us and pick Danny Care at the expense of Harry Ellis. The only blob of SHIT on the otherwise pristine team-sheet is the name of Jamie Noon, who it seems is still getting away with it and it would interesting to know what he has on someone at the RFU for this to be the case.

Full team after the fold...