More than half the players named in the England head coach Andy Robinson's first squad yesterday played no part in last year's World Cup success, as Sir Clive Woodward's successor starts planning for the 2007 tournament in France.
Though some of last year's squad were not considered because of injury - notably Richard Hill, Stuart Abbott and Simon Shaw - Matt Dawson, the form scrum-half in England this season, and Mike Catt were omitted.
Shaw, the Wasps second-row who injured his neck on England's summer tour, begins his comeback against Calvisano on Saturday but his return has come too late for his inclusion in the 40-strong squad for the Tests against Canada, South Africa and Australia.
However, other players who recently resumed playing after long-term injuries, the prop Phil Vickery, the full-back Iain Balshaw and the flanker Lewis Moody, have been included, along with the hooker Steve Thompson, who is out of action with a rib injury.
The full-back Jason Robinson, the centre Will Greenwood and the second-row Ben Kay, who were all rested in the summer, return to the squad, which contains eight uncapped players, two of whom, the Sale wing Mark Cueto and the Newcastle scrum-half Hall Charlton, were not in the elite squad announced last August.
"There are some new and young players who deserve a place in the squad," said Robinson. "Injuries have played a factor in the selection, but I am close to deciding my starting XV for our first match against Canada. We are clearly entering an exciting time."
With Robinson still not discounting his captain Jonny Wilkinson for the Tests against South Africa and Australia, he will not consider alternative leaders until the squad gathers on Monday and he is able to determine the fitness of the outside-half, who faces up to five weeks on the sidelines because of an arm injury.
Leadership is a concern for Robinson. The team that won the 2003 World Cup final contained five players who had experience of captaining England: Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Dawson, Wilkinson and Vickery. Only Wilkinson and Vickery were named in yesterday's squad, the latter despite insisting that he was not ready to make a return to the international arena having started only one match since his return from a back problem which required an operation last May. The leadership factor may hasten his return to the fray.
Robinson also has to choose a back row without Dallaglio and Hill, fixtures in the side for most of the professional era. His squad contains two specialist flankers, Moody and the uncapped Gloucester open-side Andy Hazell, though Joe Worsley should also enter that category as he is rarely considered a No8 by his country. James Forrester, yet to make his England debut, and Martin Corry will contest the No8 position, and Hugh Vyvyan and Chris Jones are forwards with experience of both the second and back rows.
England's back row was criticised for a lack of pace against New Zealand and Australia in the summer and if speed becomes a factor Hazell and Forrester will get their chance, though the most likely formation for Canada is Worsley, Corry and Moody.
Robinson said this month that he would field his strongest available side against Canada, but the match will provide his one chance for experimentation. The likes of Greenwood, Ben Cohen, Kay and Thompson have struggled to rediscover their World Cup form, with Henry Paul, Cueto, Alex Brown and Andy Titterrell offering other options. It will depend on how far Robinson is prepared to stray from the path trodden by Woodward.
"I am not necessarily looking at changing things, but I want to do them my way," he said this week. "I have a flexible style and like to challenge the players. I believe in developing leadership in them, but I can be firm and dogmatic as well."
The fact that Robinson was able to bring in two players from outside the elite squad suggests his relationship with the Zurich Premiership clubs, who want to meet the International Rugby Board to discuss the proliferation of international fixtures, is likely to be more cordial than that of Woodward, who lambasted the clubs in his resignation speech. "I think the relationship has improved already," said Robinson. "I have had various meetings with some directors of rugby and spoken to others on the phone.
"We will fall out on occasion, but the important thing is to then shake hands and move on. I believe in the way I work and my principles."
The new kids on the block
Hall Charlton, Newcastle
The scrum-half, who turned 25 this week, is the beneficiary of Matt Dawson's television commitments. Having sat on the England A bench twice in 2002, he is the one shock in the squad.
Mark Cueto, Sale
The 24-year old wing has been in rampaging form for his club this season. Started for England in the no-caps friendly against the Barbarians last year.
Louis Deacon, Leicester
The 24-year-old second-row forward was a mamber of the England A squad last season and he has been playing on rota with Ben Kay in the Tigers pack during the past two months.
Andrew Sheridan, Sale
Was a second-row before moving to the front row. Twenty-five next week, he has played in an uncapped friendly for England and at A and Under-21 level.
James Forrester, Gloucester
One of the quickest back-row players in the Premiership, where he operates at No8, the 23-year-old's push for an England cap has been undermined by a succession of injuries.
Harry Ellis, Leicester
The 22-year-old scrum-half toured Australasia with England but did not play. He moves closer to his first cap after a string of strong performances for the Tigers.
Andy Hazell, Gloucester
The 26-year-old flanker has represented England A and played New Zealand Maori last summer. Touted for higher honours for the past couple of seasons despite failing to hold down a regular club place.
Hugh Vyvyan, Saracens
The new captain of Saracens this season, after a move from Newcastle, can alternate between lock and No8. The 28-year-old has also captained England A.
