Martin Johnson has called on the England (9/4 joint favourites in Totesport’s Six Nations outright market) players given their chance in the Autumn internationals to claim a spot in the squad for next year’s Six Nations.

The 2003 World Cup winners will play three Tests, against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, next month but the coach has seen his plans decimated by injury.

Seven regular starters are all sidelined and it means that Johnson has had to bring in three new faces, Bath (100/1 to lift the Heineken Cup this season) prop David Barnes and uncapped forwards Richard Blaze and Courtney Lawes.

There are also recalls for experienced forwards Steve Thompson and Lewis Moody, but the England boss remains upbeat going into three tough matches.

Johnson insisted: “We’ve had to make a number of changes because of injuries but we have strength in depth. Each of the players coming in has the opportunity to push themselves into contention.”

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