Scrum of the Earth /

So no Danny Cipriani, but life goes on. Madonna's bulging muscles continue to grow, Labour continues to sink like Jodie Marsh's prized assets in the opinion poll and Martin Johnson must prepare England for the summer tour to New Zealand.
 
Johnson has included 13 uncapped internationals in the 27-man training squad to prepare for the customary end-of-season/summer tour warm-up against the Barbarians in the Gartmore Challenge.

The squad is made up of a mix of senior England internationals and Saxons understudies, including Bath-bound Stuart Hooper, who replaces injured Gloucester lock Alex Brown.

His immediate attention must turn to the fly-half berth where Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood are in pole position to stake their claim for a start in the 1st Test on June 14. Ryan Lamb will discover on Tuesday if he will be promoted from the Saxons.

Other possible options include the lord of Leicester, Andy Goode, or perhaps Dominic Waldouck, whose form for Wasps has been simply sensational.

Just in case you wondered where the Bath, Leicester, Wasps and err 'Worcester' players were then they've got a couple of final's to deal with first.

England training squad for Barbarians:

Forwards: Alex Clarke (Bristol), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Jason Hobson Bristol), Stuart Hooper (Leeds), Chris Jones (Sale), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Nick Lloyd (Saracens), Luke Narraway (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Will Skinner (Harlequins), David Wilson (Newcastle).

Backs: Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Toby Flood (Newcastle), Charlie Hodgson (Sale), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), Peter Richards (London Irish), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Newcastle), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale).