* England cut last ties with class of 2003
* Nine uncapped players in Lancaster’s first squad
(Writes through, adds details)
By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) – England turned to a raft of
new names on Wednesday as caretaker coach Stuart Lancaster
discarded several high-profile players when he named a
fresh-faced squad that will aim to repair the team’s bruised
reputation.
The experienced Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto
were among those omitted from the 32-man elite player squad as
England seek to put behind them a dismal World Cup campaign
dogged by scandal and defend their Six Nations title next month.
Nine uncapped players were selected, as well as four who
have one cap, with the squad featuring 13 changes from last
year’s World Cup trip to New Zealand that ended with a
quarter-final defeat by France.
“It’s about a new era for English rugby,” Lancaster told a
news conference at the team’s temporary training base in the
northern city of Leeds.
“Hopefully, with the selection that we’ve done we’ve picked
a side that’s exciting, talented and that’s going to be
committed to getting us back where we want to be at the top of
the game.”
Among the uncapped arrivals were Owen Farrell, son of former
international and current assistant coach Andy, and Ben Morgan,
the Scarlets number eight who turned down an approach from
Wales.
Continued…
