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RAW ENGLAND AWAIT TOURING AUSSIES

ABOVE: Martin Johnson

3rd November 2009

Ben Kay, Nick Kennedy, Ben Foden and Mathew Tait were among 10 players who were released from the England rugby squad on Tuesday night.

Coach Martin Johnson's plans for the match against Australia on Saturday have been ravaged by injuries and his team announcement was delayed until Wednesday to give Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley every chance of recovering from a hamstring strain.

The departures of Foden and Tait provide confirmation that Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto will start in the back three, with Shane Geraghty and Dan Hipkiss in midfield.

Uncapped Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle is a surprise inclusion in the 22-man squad and is set to provide powerful midfield back-up from the bench.

As a result of England's injury crisis, Johnson is seeking stability and continuity anywhere he can find it - and that is by naming the same tight five that faced Argentina in June and, possibly, an all-Leicester back row.

Leicester's Louis Deacon is set to keep his second-row place alongside captain Steve Borthwick, with uncapped Northampton lock Courtenay Lawes on the bench.

Lewis Moody and Lions flanker Tom Croft are guaranteed starters in the back row, with Johnson to choose between their Tigers colleague Jordan Crane and in-form Stade Francais loose-forward James Haskell.

Initial indications were that Hartley would be fit to start in the front row alongside loosehead Tim Payne and, probably, David Wilson, the promising Bath tighthead prop.

Jonny Wilkinson's form for Toulon is set to earn him the nod at fly-half, and his experience will also come in handy in a side which will have an average of just 19 caps per man.

England's 22-man squad to play Australia in Saturday's Investec Challenge at Twickenham: Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath). Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).