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Squad's mobility and pace key factors for Smith
TONY SMITH has put his faith in the fast and the familiar for the forthcoming rugby league World Cup in Australia when England will look to end their 36-year exile in the international wilderness.
The bulk of the 24-man squad that will fly out to Townsville in North Queensland on Monday has been drawn from the players who have won five successive Tests since Smith became national coach 17 months ago.
There are a few new faces in the likes of Mark Calderwood, Rob Purdham and Ben Westwood, but even they have rich representative experience from their involvement in the England shadow squad over the last five years.
The only surprises are the absence of Garreth Carvell and Stuart Fielden, whose omission gives a telling insight into Smith's thinking behind a squad which features just four specialist props but three recognised wingers.
One of the latter is Lee Smith, the 22-year-old Leeds Rhinos flier who helped secure his World Cup selection with a man-of-the-match winning performance in last Saturday's Super League grand final.
"I think speed is a massive thing against any team we play in Australia," said Smith. "It has played a big part in the selection process and this is a very fast team with some electric players, both in the forwards and the backs."
For much of the last three decades Great Britain and England have gone into Test series and World Cups with teams packed full of explosive, big men in an attempt to beat the Australians at their own game.
That they have not won an Ashes series since 1970 or a World Cup since 1972 offers compelling evidence that previous coaches have been misguided, a mistake Smith is clearly not prepared to repeat.
England's squad puts the emphasis on pace and mobility, qualities which should stand them in good stead on the hard grounds that await Down Under.
Smith has named nine back rowers, some of whom are no strangers to filling in at centre, and though Rob Burrow of Leeds is the only recognised scrum-half, the presence of Wigan's Mickey Higham, St Helens hooker-cum-half-back James Roby and Danny McGuire give the coach a host of options in the event of injuries.
"I am delighted with the squad, it's a good blend of youth and experience," said Smith. "I'm also delighted by the fact that the majority of the team has been together for the last couple of years as we have built towards this tournament.
"The players have really worked well together, both on and off the field. One of the real positives is the team spirit they bring – we have some great additions who will enhance that team spirit and the momentum we have been building.
"There was a real 'club-like' feeling among the players during our time together for the Test in France and that's something we're looking to achieve when we go to Australia."
Smith has called up 15 of the players who were involved in last Saturday's Super League title decider – eight from champions Leeds and seven from St Helens – and as weary as those players inevitably are, the coach has no doubt they will be refreshed and ready come the opening match against Papua New Guinea at Townsville on Saturday, October 25.
"The two teams that participated in the grand final have been very, very good and without insulting the rest of the competition Leeds and St Helens have been the two stand-out teams," said Smith, who spoke with his selections in the immediate aftermath of a bruising grand final.
"The enthusiasm that they conveyed to me tells me that there won't be any chance of burnout. I will certainly take their fatigue into account if necessary in their training over the next few weeks.
"Having the World Cup at the end of the season has an extra incentive to rejuvenate people. After the grand final they were telling me they were ready to go. I think that also offers more evidence that we have picked form players."
One recurring theme during the announcement of the squad at a hotel near Brighouse yesterday morning was the need for players who can fill a number of different roles.
That was particularly true of Lee Smith, who won the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match from full-back on Saturday despite having spent much of the last two years operating on the wing.
England will again be captained by Jamie Peacock, the Leeds prop who led Great Britain to a 3-0 Test series win against New Zealand last autumn and a 56-8 win against France in Toulouse a little over three months ago.
"It's a very exciting squad and I'm very proud to be named captain," said Peacock. "There is a great deal of ability within this squad and there are some very good players who will feel unlucky not to have made it.
"That shows the increased depth of talent there is in Super League and gives us a great chance to go and give a great account of ourselves in the World Cup."
ENGLAND SQUAD
Rob Burrow scrum-half
Leeds Rhinos Age: 26
Mark Calderwood winger
Wigan Warriors Age: 26
Gareth Ellis second row
Leeds Rhinos Age: 27
Maurie Fa'asavalu second row
St Helens Age: 28
Ade Gardner winger
St Helens Age: 25
Martin Gleeson centre Warrington Wolves Age: 28
James Graham prop
St Helens Age: 23
Mickey Higham hooker
Wigan Warriors Age: 28
Gareth Hock second row
Wigan Warriors Age: 25
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
second row
Leeds Rhinos Age: 27
Jamie Langley loose forward
Bradford Bulls Age: 24
Danny McGuire stand-off
Leeds Rhinos Age: 25
Adrian Morley prop
Warrington Wolves Age: 31
Jamie Peacock prop
Leeds Rhinos Age: 30
Leon Pryce stand-off
St Helens Age: 26
Rob Purdham second row
Harlequins Age: 28
James Roby hooker
St Helens Age: 22
Keith Senior centre
Leeds Rhinos Age: 32
Kevin Sinfield loose forward
Leeds Rhinos Age: 28
Lee Smith winger
Leeds Rhinos Age: 22
Paul Sykes centre
Bradford Bulls Age: 27
Paul Wellens full-back
St Helens Age: 28
Ben Westwood second row
Warrington Wolves Age: 27
Jon Wilkin second row
St Helens Age: 24
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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