Several people have commented that Martin Johnson should be admired for his continuity in selection, avoiding the chopping and changing that seemed to plague his predecessors and prevent any sort of development in the team.

It's a great theory that sticking with the same team will help build a great side...unless of course you got the selection wrong in the first place.

Steve Borthwick is the first name on the teamsheet - sadly though, it's not because he's the best second row available. He is ineffective in the loose and outshone by Nick Kennedy in the lineout, whilst the blame for the penalty count must lie partly at his door since it betrays a lack of leadership. It's time the captain was dropped.

Nick Easter has also outstayed his welcome in the Number 8 shirt, particularly since he was shown up so cruelly by the omnipresence of James Haskell and Joe Worsley at the Millennium Stadium. Easter has such little dynamism that he actually slows the ball down in attack - not ideal when it's usually recycled at snail's pace anyway.

At fly-half, where is Danny Cipriani? His talent is unquestionable and is surely a more suitable long term option that Toby Flood or Andy Goode who have already prove that they are not. He may have his flaws, but if development is the name of the game, Cipriani should be in the side.

And when will we see Paul Sackey look as if he's interested? His lackadaisical approach is mightily frustrating when he is keeping the likes of James Simpson-Daniel and Mathew Tait out of the side, and it's time someone else was given a chance.

If England show no improvement from the last round when they take on the Irish at Croke Park, it would suggest a lack of progression and it would be time for Johnno to admit that his selection has been misguided from the outset.

James Hutchison
www.therugbyblog.co.uk