Triple Boost For England

England will be handed a triple boost next week by welcoming back influential trio of skipper Lewis Moody, scrum-half Ben Youngs and powerful prop Andrew Sheridan. The players will rejoin the rest of the England squad ahead of next weekend final warm-up match against Ireland, by which time Martin Johnson will have decided which partnerships are working in the first 15. Last weekend’s 19-9 defeat at the Millennium Stadium against Wales will have given Johnson plenty to ponder. Those looking at the Rugby Union betting odds should remember this.

The 2003 World Cup winning captain revealed the news the three players will be fit in time to make the squad, with the trio in contention for next weekend’s match against Ireland. Johnson also admitted he has a pretty clear idea of the 30 players which will make up his final World Cup squad, although his first 15 still remains far from certain.

“I am confident they will all go to New Zealand and confident they will be available next week,” he said.

“We’re pretty much there with our 30 for the World Cup, but in terms of the starting 15, there’s still a little way to go.”

The returning trio will all be pushing for places in that starting 15 come England’s opening match of the tournament against Argentina on the 10th of September. Youngs has emerged as one of the exciting scrum-half prospects currently around and would have been a sure starter if it hadn’t of been for the knee injury suffered last month. It remains to be seen whether the Leicester youngster will start as first choice, with Danny Care having a mixed time of things against Wales in the recent two games. As anyone looking at the Rugby Union World Cup betting will know, sides can’t afford to carry any deadweight.

Skipper Moddy was feared to have done serious damage to his knee when forced from the field against Wales at the beginning of August, but scans revealed nothing overly concerning and the flanker should play some part against the Irish. Joining Moody in the pack will be Andrew Sheridan, who has recovered from shoulder and calf problems and will now challenge Alex Corbisiero for a place in that front-row.