Winston Churchill would have choked on his cigar at the mere idea of playing rugby union in England in June. Some of those involved in this month's Churchill Cup will be feeling similarly queasy as they contemplate a tournament which lasts until 18 June, allowing virtually no respite before the pre-season slog starts again. Talk about fighting them on the beaches.
The International Rugby Board, concerned at the number of weakened sides being dispatched from Europe to the southern hemisphere, has scrapped senior tours in World Cup years but the shadow squad are not so blessed. With England's World Cup training camp starting on 20 June, few of those selected for Churchillian duty should anticipate boarding a plane to New Zealand in August.
One exception looks certain to the Saracens prop Matt Stevens who, courtesy of a two-year drug suspension which ended in January, remains full of running. Assuming he does the business this month, starting on Saturday against the USA in Northampton, his ability to pack down on both sides of the scrum would make him an ideal World Cup squad candidate. The Bath-bound Dave Attwood might conceivably be another contender but, as things stand, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer, Louis Deacon and Simon Shaw are ahead of him.
Others like Alex Goode, Luke Narraway, David Paice and Matt Mullan will also have to play out of their skins over the next fortnight simply to be chosen for an expected 44-man training squad. Even then, with only 30 players making the final cut, something spectacular will still be required to persuade Martin Johnson and his senior coaches to ditch those who secured England's first Six Nations title for eight years.
For someone like Mouritz Botha, as a result, there is precious little to lose. The Saracens lock, born in the coal mining and cattle ranching town of Vryheid in KwaZulu Natal, about 320km from Durban – his birthplace means freedom in Afrikaans – is qualified for England by virtue of residency and, at 29, could yet be in line for a full cap somewhere down the track. As one of the linchpins of Sarries' Premiership-winning pack, his profile is rising fast.
If that means him joining Stevens, Hendre Fourie, Riki Flutey, Shontayne Hape, Manu Tuilagi and Thomas Waldrom in an increasingly cosmopolitan England squad, patriots are simply going to have to lump it. All of them satisfy the regulations and are as English as Lewis Moody in the eyes of the management. A five-year residency rule would silence some of the doubters but, either way, England have long since forfeited the right to complain about other nations recruiting from afar.
Of more concern to Stuart Lancaster's squad is retaining the trophy they won last year. The captain, Luke Narraway, sits out the opening game with a calf problem but the US Eagles, guided by the former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan, are also without several leading players, resting up after arduous seasons. After facing the USA on Saturday, the Saxons will play Tonga at Gloucester on 12 June, followed by Italy A, Russia or Canada on finals day at Worcester on 18 June.
England Saxons (v US Eagles): Brown (Harlequins); Ojo (London Irish), Trinder (Gloucester), Twelvetrees (Leicester), Benjamin (Worcester); Clegg (Harlequins), Young (Newcastle); Mullan (Worcester), Gray (Harlequns), Stevens (Saracens), Botha (Saracens), Attwood (Gloucester), Gaskell (Sale), Johnson (Exeter), Crane (Leicester, capt). Replacements: Paice (London Irish), Brookes (Newcastle), Kitchener (Worcester), Gibson (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), Goode (Saracens), Sharples (Gloucester).
Churchill Cup tournament schedule 2011
Saturday 4 June, Franklin's Gardens
Italy A v Canada, 2.30pm
England Saxons v USA, 5pm
Wednesday 8 June, Moseley Road
Tonga v USA, 5.30pm
Russia v Canada, 8pm
Sunday 12 June, Kingsholm
England Saxons v. Tonga, 2.30pm
Italy A v Russia, 5pm
Saturday 18 June, Sixways
Bowl final, noon
Plate final, 2.15pm
Cup final, 4.30pm
