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Dave Thompson

Ashton drops out of England squad again as Lancaster prefers Rokoduguni

The Fijian soldier is one of three uncapped players in England’s 33-man squad.

ENGLAND HEAD COACH Stuart Lancaster has named Semesa Rokoduguni as one of three uncapped players in his 33 strong squad for the November internationals.

The Fijian-born Bath winger – a serving soldier – comes in to the squad with Chris Ashton among those who miss out.

Ashton has been out of favour with Lancaster in the past, but was brought back in from the cold for the summer tour in New Zealand. However, Lancaster has not fully closed the door on making additions to the party.

“We are still monitoring a number of players injury-wise,” said Lancaster, “and with another intensive round of European games to come, including the Wasps-Harlequins and Sale-Clermont games on Sunday, there are likely to be additions to the squad after the weekend as we move into the training camp and towards the games – so there is plenty to be decided before the New Zealand match comes around.”

Along with Rokoduguni, one of seven Bath players in the squad, Lancaster has handed call-ups to Northampton back row Calum Clark and Saracens second row George Kruis.

Injury has denied the head coach the opportunity to include Tom Croft, Manu Tuilagi, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Alex Corbisiero, Tom Johnson, Ed Slater, Dan Cole and Geoff Parling in the elite training squad for Tests against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia.

England squad for 2014 November internationals:

Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)

Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)

Locks:
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Back rows
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Scrum-halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Out-halves
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)

Centres
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Back three
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

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