BBC SPORTArabicSpanishRussianChinese
BBCiNEWS  SPORT  WEATHER  WORLD SERVICE  A-Z INDEX   SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Rugby Union: International 
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Cricket
Rugby Union
Statistics
International
European
English
Celtic
Rugby League
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
News image
BBC News
News image
BBC Weather
News image
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS

Monday, 4 November, 2002, 14:15 GMT
Simpson-Daniel earns England debut
James Simpson-Daniel outpaces Jonah Lomu
Simpson-Daniel shone against the Barbarians in May
England v New Zealand, Saturday 9 November, Twickenham. Kick off 1430 GMT. Live commentary on BBC Sport Online

James Simpson-Daniel will make his Test debut when England meet New Zealand at Twickenham.

The 20-year-old Gloucester wing earns his place following some excellent Premiership displays.

Simpson-Daniel said: "It hasn't really sunk in yet. It will probably sink in tonight when I am lying in bed, and have a chance to think about it.

"Clive Woodward has confidence in me, and I will go out there and play my hardest and try not to let anyone down."

Simpson-Daniel will come up against Jonah Lomu for a second time on Saturday, following the giant All Black wing's appearance for the Barbarians against England last May.

  Simpson-Daniel factfile
1982: Born 30 May in Stockton
2000: Joins Gloucester, makes debut in December
2001, May: Scores first Gloucester try against Rotherham
2002, March: Helps England to Hong Kong Sevens triumph
May: Scores first hat-trick for Gloucester
Scores try for England against Barbarians
4 November: England debut in Test against New Zealand

The Gloucester wing marked his international debut that day by out-sprinting Lomu to score a memorable 40-metre solo try.

Taine Randell, New Zealand captain on Saturday, told BBC Sport Online he hoped Lomu would cope better second time around.

"I hope Jonah comes back and has a good game," he chuckled.

"He certainly got a bit of a shock last time but he'll be looking forward to it."

Simpson-Daniel is the only Test debutant in an England side that is built on experience.

However, Leicester and Lions flanker Neil Back, who captained England for part of last season's Six Nations campaign, misses out.

Lewis Moody, Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio form the back row and Hill will become the 12th member of England's 50-cap club.

Matt Dawson has won the scrum-half battle - Austin Healey is named on the bench, preferred to Andy Gomarsall.

Bath captain Danny Grewcock edges out Ben Kay to partner skipper Martin Johnson in the second row.

And Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman wins his sixth cap and first appearance in an England starting line-up.

New Zealand are likely to name many more uncapped players, given that their squad includes 12 of them.

A number of established Test players have been rested, and exciting 20-year-old centre Regan King may be given a role.


England team:
J Robinson (Sale Sharks); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Dawson (Northampton); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), D Grewcock (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Wasps).

Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), J Leonard (Harlequins), B Kay (Leicester), N Back (Leicester), A Healey (Leicester), B Johnston (Saracens), T Stimpson (Leicester).

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
BBC Sport's Joe Wilson
"For once the All Blacks start as underdogs"
England coach Clive Woodward
"He's in on merit"
Newcastle's Rob Andrew
"We can match the big three at Twickenham"
News image

England v Australia

England v NZ

Have your say

STATISTICS
Links to more International stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more International stories

© BBC^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales