By Mally (04/07/03)
September 14 2003

Newcastle Falcons' duo Dave Walder & Hugh Vyvyan are back in the England A starting line-up for the final non-cap international of England's second string summer tour after being rested for the mid-week match against the Japan Select XV.

Although the mid-week side won comprehensively 37-10, coach Jim Mallinder (Sharks) has retained just 4 players (Ben Johnston, Alex Brown, Pete Anglesea and Andy Hazell) from the mid-week starting line-up. With the two matches just days apart, the side for the second match is virtually the same one which won the Churchill Cup final last week.

Jim Mallinder described the England A tour policy of "picking a side to win the game but also to give everyone game time and an opportunity". RFU: England team to face Japan

Mallinder has named 8 replacements as locks Alex Codling and Alex Brown are recovering from injury.

The Squad for Tokyo Sunday 6th July

I Balshaw (Bath), M Cueto (Sharks), B Johnston (Saracens), H Paul (Gloucester), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Dave Walder (Newcastle Falcons), M Wood (Bath), M Worsley (NEC Harlequins), P Greening (London Wasps), W Green (London Wasps), A Codling (Saracens), A Brown (Gloucester), P Anglesea (Sale Sharks), A Hazell (Gloucester), Hugh Vyvyan (capt, Newcastle Falcons).

Replacements (from):

O Barkley (Bath), N Hatley (London Irish), D Hyde (Leeds Tykes), C Jones (Sharks), D Scarbrough (Leeds Tykes), A Sheridan (Sharks), A Titterrell (Sharks), P Volley (London Wasps).

Dave Walder is back at 10 replacing Bath's Ollie Barclay, while Hugh Vyvyan returns to captain the side after his mid-week rest.

Both Newcastle Falcons' have done well on the summer tour, with Hugh Vyvyan leading the side to victory Churchill Cup competition final, scoring a try in the 43-6 win over the USA. Planet Rugby: Churchill Cup glory for England

However the media focus has been mainly on Dave Walder, as the debate continues as to who should go to the World Cup as back-up to fellow Falcon Jonny Wilkinson.

"The outstanding Dave Walder" was how Wyn Griffiths of The Independent described the Falcons' fly-half in his Churchill Cup final report, The Independent: England A title strengthens feelgood factor.

Other pundits concur, Mark Smith of Planet Rugby wrote today that Walder would be among the players looking to book "their World Cup ticket" this weekend.

"He (Walder) missed almost the entire season with a broken leg was overlooked for the senior tour to Australasia, instead settling for a place in the second-string, where he did enough to suggest that Northampton's Paul Grayson and Alex King have a fight on his hands for a back-up place to starter Jonny Wilkinson." Planet Rugby

And what does the the man himself think? Interviewed on the RFU website prior to the Churchill Cup final Dave down-played his chances:

"As far as the World Cup goes I haven’t given up hope but having had the year I have had I’m not expecting to be in - but you never know." RFU: Walder seeks Churchill Cup boost

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