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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Stevens gets England call ahead of World Cup

Matt Stevens has been rewarded for his fine form in the Churchill Cup with a recall to England's 45-man provisional squad ahead of the World Cup.

The prop was instrumental in the England Saxons' recent victory in the tournament, regularly dominating his opponents at scrum-time as well as providing impetus in the loose.

Stevens returned to the game in January after serving a two-year ban failing a drugs test after admitting to taking cocaine while playing for previous club Bath.

The South-African born player, who is equally comfortable on either side of the scrum, signed with Saracens upon his return and was a vital part of the side that won the club's first ever Premiership crown at Twickenham at the end of May. Those making a Betfair iPhone app download would have been impressed by his efforts.

His recall marks the end of fairytale comeback for the prop and he'll be keen to impress as he looks to make the final squad and add to 32 caps he has already amassed.

Stevens is joined in the squad by fellow South African-born player, lock Mauritz Botha as well Leicester Tigers' Manu Tuilagi and Thomas Waldrom, Wasps' scrum-half Joe Simpson and Stevens' Chruchill cup teammate Charlie Sharples.

There also recals for Richard Wrigglesworth, Lee Mears, Ugo Monye and James Simpson-Daniel who have all been included alongside the squad that took part in the Six Nations and coach Martin Johnson says no-one has a guaranteed place for the tournament in New Zealand. Anyone planning a Betfair mobile download should bear this in mind.

"Every one of these players has the chance to be in that final 30 going to New Zealand" he told his press conference. "The camp is going to be intense and competitive, as you would expect leading up to a World Cup, but all the players are ready for it.

"It's now up to all of them to set down their marker over the next 10 weeks before we head to New Zealand."

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