Rugby: England coach cuts deep for Six Nations

Stuart Lancaster. Photo / Getty Images

Acting England head coach Stuart Lancaster proclaimed the dawn of a new era for English rugby after naming his first squad yesterday.

Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto were among the high profile casualties when Lancaster announced his 32-man party for the Six Nations.

Fullback Delon Armitage also missed the cut as Lancaster preferred Mike Brown and made 15 changes from the August 2011 senior squad, with nine uncapped players included.

Saracens centres Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt were named in the party for the first time, with Northampton's in-form halfback Lee Dickson and flanker Calum Clark. And Ben Morgan, the No 8, was rewarded for choosing England ahead of Wales with a first international call-up.

Lancaster was able to make 10 changes over and above the international retirements of England great Jonny Wilkinson, former captain Lewis Moody and hooker Steve Thompson.

England had a wretched World Cup campaign in New Zealand last year when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals and attracted controversy off the pitch.

Tindall's alcohol-fuelled exploits in a Queenstown nightclub was among several unwanted headlines generated by the squad, and Lancaster insisted he was desperate to get the side back on track.

"Today is a new era for English rugby," said Lancaster, who has the England job on a temporary basis following the post-World Cup resignation of former manager Martin Johnson.

"We want to use the Six Nations to develop our players. We are very excited and the players are very excited."

Lancaster has replaced a proposed training camp in Portugal with one at the junior club West Park Leeds, in the north of England from January 23.

The new coach will name his captain for the Six Nations at the end of the five-day camp, with Northampton flanker Tom Wood leading the running.

The Six Nations champions begin the defence of their title away to Scotland on February 4.

- AAP