Worsley’s dreams of fourth World Cup shattered

England’s Joe Worsley will miss the World Cup after being named as one of five players dropped from Martin Johnson’s training squad for the tournament in New Zealand.

Johnson released Worsley, Leicester pair George Chuter and Thomas Waldrom, Saracens wing David Strettle and Gloucester back James Simpson-Daniel on Monday as he ramped up his preparations for the two World Cup warm-up fixtures against Wales.

“Joe has come back from some injuries last year and worked incredibly hard to get back in but has come up a little bit short right now,” Johnson said.

“Thomas had an injury to his calf and he hasn’t been able to train that much. He has gone back to Leicester to participate in their pre-season.

“The other decisions have all been tough because everyone has participated and contributed. It is particularly tough on Stretts (Strettle) because he has trained very, very well.

“Simpson-Daniel has had a couple of niggling injuries and a bit of illness.”

Wasps back-row forward Worsley - who made his Test debut in the 1999 World Cup and was part of the victorious squad in 2003 - had hoped to play in his fourth World Cup, but the 78-cap veteran failed to make the cut for the 40-man squad.

The decision to cut Worsley and Waldrom, who has been struggling with a calf injury, means the Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw is still pushing for World Cup selection.

Chuter’s departure leaves England with three hookers in Dylan Hartley, Steve Thompson and Lee Mears - all of whom are now likely to travel to New Zealand.

Strettle and Simpson-Daniel have been overtaken in the pecking order by Gloucester’s Charlie Sharples and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye.

Johnson is yet to cut any of his seven props or his five second row players as he looks ahead to England’s World Cup opener against Argentina in Dunedin on September 10.

Meanwhile, Johnson hinted that England rookies Manu Tuilagi and Sharples are one step closer to making his World Cup squad after impressing at the training camp.

Leicester centre Tuilagi, 20, and Sharples, 21, are yet to make their Test debuts but the duo were singled out for praise from Johnson after surviving the first cut of the England training squad.

“We were confident they were worth their place or we wouldn’t have picked them. They’ve got this far, which shows we’ve been pleased with what they’ve done,” Johnson said.

“The next step will be selection and getting on the field in the next two weeks.

“I’ve been impressed (by Tuilagi). He’s a strong, powerful young man. He is an incredibly impressive physical specimen.

“Sharples is a very impressive young man who has worked very hard. He’s got his head down and taken it all in.”

Revised England World Cup training squad:

Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), Tim Payne (London Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Matt Stevens (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Lee Mears (Bath), Steve Thompson (London Wasps), Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais/FRA), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks), James Haskell (Unattached), Lewis Moody (Bath), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints).

Backs: Delon Armitage (London Irish), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Matt Banahan (Bath), Riki Flutey (London Wasps), Shontayne Hape (London Irish), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon/FRA), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

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