Whose choking and poaching now?

Ian, London, UK

Whan you look at the latest IRB rankings you can see why the English clubs like the players from the powder puff Super 14 and Tri Nations can't you Stevo.

1 South Africa 90.81
2 New Zealand 89.79
3 Australia 84.56
4 Argentina 83.42
5 England 83.16

Dave Robinson, Cambridge,

England seem to lack 'outstanding' players at the moment - Greenwood, J. Robinson, and Back all fell into that category. Maybe the clubs are relying too much on overseas players as their 'stand out' players at club level? The England head coach can't fix this...

Dafydd Nelson, Brussels,

Meant to comment earlier but forgot. SJ should also check that the Government is that of the UK and not England so there would never have been a question of a national holiday - not the first time our Stephen has made such a gaffe. His selection was also pretty rank!

Denis, Llanelli,

I agree with most of your article. But - I'm glad you're not selecting the squad. Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Tins, Perry, Grewcock??????
Come on we have better players than that.

Nigel, wilmington,

No, no, no

No Brown or Tindall or Hodgson or Perry or Vickery or Shaw PLEASE. These players have been given HUNDREDS of chances between tham and never proved themselves world-class

We do need new blood and picking has-beens is not the answer.

David, St Albans, UK

Charlie out of both squads. He is not up to it and finally someone with sense has seen that ship has sailed. Stuart Barnes, time to move on and find another pet project.

Paul, London, UK

Unbelievable to see comments from SJ regarding using foreign players after all the tripe that gets written about player "poaching" by the NZRU. At least here (with a couple of exceptions) they are poached straight out of the NZ schools which they are taught in. The hypocrisy is suffocating.

RobP, Auckland , NZ

Hartley is brimming with Test match experience...? This is tiresome from Jones. The sort of players needed in this new squad will be of the type that can thrive under the ELVs and exploit the new opportunities. Any thoughts on that, Stephen? Do you want Tait or Tindall in a broken up ELV midfield?

Luke, Geneva, Switzerland

We need a consistant team selection. The England 15 that played the first test against NZ had 11 changes from the team that beat Ireland!!! Team selection has been all over the place. We are never going to be competitive again without growing & evolving the same group of (tough & skillful) players.

Danny, Surrey, England

I knew SJ would pick Riki Fluety, he admires the style of NZ rugby players

Micha, Palmerston North, New Zealand

I have long treasured Stephen Jones' advice and selections but would be grateful for an explanation as to why he has omitted Simpson-Daniel from his squad. The fact that three previous England regimes have ignored him completely is almost a guarantee that he will grace the threes line !

Simon Braidwood, Les Vans, France

Hartley is brimming with Test experience...? Tyros or experience? This is tiresome from SJ. The sort of players needed in this new squad will be those that can thrive under the ELVs and exploit the new opportunities. Any thoughts on that, Stephen? Do you want Tait or Tindall in a broken ELV midfield

Luke, Geneva, Switzerland

Haha, this squad is ridiculous at best, i mean its completely useless, that squad would come unstuck against the vast majority of half decent int teams out there. Hodgson is soft, technically he is up there, but he lacks anything between his legs.

nick, cheltenham, uk

Ha ha oh my god. That is the 32 we would have the big three SH teams would picke for us so they could make it look hard and not to one sided in the first half and when they are bored run in 3 tries in the last 20 mins. How did you pick that 32? World class, pub player. world class, pub player

Adam, Southampton, England

Smart selection. No chance of them ever playing which leaves you clear to critcise the new team with a clear conscience.

DaveMc, Nice, France

I seriously question your rugby knowledge.Leaving out the player of the year in JSD,classic.
Yeh, lets keep old heffers like Tindall in the midfield,dont give up the day job.

Griff,Yeovil

griff, yeovil,

No Tait?!! No Simpson-Daniel?!!!! ....... No clue.

Edwick, Rio Rancho, USA

Have to agree with the comment about Hodgson ......... he never will make the grade at international level. Full stop. The other suggestions - interesting, but do give Tait a few more chances - consistently he is the only back ever to show any sparkle.

David A. Smith, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Lewsey - alleluia. Ojo - needs to learn how to tackle - dreadful in NZ - 2 tries notwithstanding. Brown no - weak. Hodgson - get real. Flutey - absolutely. Johnny - is he up to it these days?
Steven, the changes need to be performed at the board level aswell.

Andy McC, Livingston,

I doubt Jones actually believes this. Controversy for controversy's sake. Ridiculous that he can pick Mike Brown but not Tait or Ojo. I assume he also felt that Varndell wouldn't be a headless chicken in NZ, having seen Lote Tuqiri dominate him 3 years ago. Honestly, it's just so much nonsense.

Tim Banks, London,

England have some very good young players, albeit not reflected in this poor squad. All Johnson needs to do is persist with combinations and help the team's development. It is obvious at this point that some of the above players are not international material so that should make Johhno's job easier.

Benjamin Saunders, Beckenham,

Good article but a pretty woeful 32 if Johnson picked that mess we'd definately stay in this mess!

Reggie Wilding, Leicester,

Luckily, it will be Martin Johnson choosing the 32 and not Stephen Jones. The turgid displays by the England midfield over the past three years need to be addressed. The damage limitation of Tindall and Noon didn't work. Let's get Tait & James Simpson-Daniel involved. Their defence can improve.

Tim Smart, Johannesburg, RSA

I fear for Martin, because it loooks so much like "attitude is the answer ". No amount of talking up will create a meaningful backline or forwards who can catch and pass.

Ai Rui Sheng, Shanghai, China

You make the same mistake again and again when you pick these squads. You have your favourite clubs and players and you never look at it with anything other than your one eye. Varndell played like a rabbit in the headlights 3 years ago against Australia, 3 years on ditto against NZ, enough said.

Andy, Cheletenham,

I'l lay you 1,000/1 that Richard Blaze gets nowhere near the 32.

Guy, Oxon,

The selection of Crane is shocking, the most one dimensional, slow, sturgid and under powered number 8 in the Premiership. Haskell educated him in the Guinness final. England need to find space for Tait too, a truly inventive footballer. Blaze? Pure silliness. What more has Kennedy to do?

Benjamin Saunders, Beckenham,

How can Tait not get a look in, and Brown does?
Tait was one of the few players with raw pace and skill, somthing the England backs have been missing for some years!
Although the selection of Paice at hooker is a deserved call, a bright light in the dark of the front row!

Iain Woodbridge, Dorchester, England

It's emperor's clothes! England rugger players are NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Poor technique especially, Witness aimless kicking away possession. Catching high ball in front of body.
Larry Grayson tackles round chest. Watch the Blacks and learn.

Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Clearly Mr Jones..is having a moment. To not include JS-Daniel in the squad is clearly crazy..does he forget he is the Premiership player of the year.......

Simon, Worcester, Worcestershire

What a hypocrite. Mr Jones likes to berate New Zealand for selecting New Zealand-born players of polynesian heritage. But it's OK for England to pick a born-and-bred New Zealander because, well, needs must.

Is this not poaching?

Philip, Auckland, NZ

You reap what you sow. As long as you buy in overseas players to bolster your home competitions ,this meandering of your national team, will be your fate.This should be where your criticism's should go.You bolster your teams with the best overseas players and each one is a nail in the national team'

Paul , wanaka, New Zealand

Wonderful selection. I am absolutely delighted as an Irishman. If he picks from that lot it will need 'The Saviour Martin' to be able to walk on water and turn that water into Guinness to get any results from those guys. A lot of has-beens or never-weres'. Keep up the good work. Ireland loves you.

Jack Kennedy, Whitehead, Antrim

No wonder Englands rugby is in turmoil. We keep waxing and waning between old/stodge and up and coming tyros. Tindall for example , his only position in the team should be in place of Sheriden. If SJ's thought processes on selection reflect those tasked with the real job then England is doomed.

Dave Robinson, Cambridge,

Martin Johnson will make little difference. No management experience, all we hear about is his "iconic" status and some sort of aura that most of his opponents, especially from NZ didn't buy when he was a player. His cheap shot from behind on Justin Marshall in 1997 speaks volumes.

JT, The Hague, The Netherlands

My respect for your opinion has nearly gone in one article. Its almost as if you've got it in your head that young and inexperienced cannot play rugby unless the are called Cipriani. Were you watching the same tour. Tait, Ojo and Care were the only success story's in the backs and Hodgson!?!

Steve, Auckland, New Zealand

Good to note the Dutch kiwi attacking M.J. before he is even operational. That also speaks volumes, friend.

Tony Gold, London, England

Thank heavens Jones is not in charge. I see many better and more informed selections from armchair fans on selection boards. Has Perry ever played well for England? Is Hogson really better than flood? Very myopic selection, i feel. Blaze, offers much but is not first choice for saxons or tigers.

sam march, glasgow, Uk