Johnson announces 6 Nations squad

Martin Johnson was bullish about England's RBS 6 Nations title chances after naming a new-look squad that includes rugby league converts Shontayne Hape and Chris Ashton.

Johnson also promoted Northampton's dynamic duo Ben Foden and Courtney Lawes into his 32-man squad after learning some brutal lessons from England's autumn campaign.

England scored just one try in three Test matches.

Indeed, Australia, Argentina and New Zealand all left Twickenham stating how comfortable it had been to defend against England.

Johnson admitted last night the coaching had been "over-prescriptive" in the autumn, the game-plan too conservative and his squad selection has set about rectifying the problem.

Ashton, the Northampton winger, is the leading try-scorer in the country with nine from 10 games in the Guinness Premiership and he forms a lethal back three combination with Foden.

Lawes, a dynamic and athletic lock forward, enjoyed a 10-minute taste of international rugby off the bench against the Wallabies and has continued his rapid ascent during the last two months.

Hape, the Bath centre who won 14 New Zealand rugby league caps, was selected just days after qualifying to play for England on residency grounds.

The new arrivals supplement a squad boosted by the return to fitness of key attacking stars in Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey and Toby Flood.

Johnson said: "We finally have the core guys back in and there's some depth building. Every series has felt like starting again in recent years and hopefully we can develop the consistency we got towards the end of last year's Six Nations.

"I think we've got a good enough group of players to go into any Six Nations game thinking about winning. There's no reason we shouldn't be doing that."

England finished second in last year's Six Nations and scored the most tries in the competition, helped by a five-try demolition job on France at Twickenham.

But Johnson's best laid plans for the autumn were then wrecked by an unprecedented injury crisis which robbed England of at least 10 guaranteed starters.

With such upheaval in the camp, England's coaches retreated into their shells and played rugby as if in shackles.

Johnson indicated firmly that mindset will change, not only through his selections but also by admitting some of the coaching mistakes that had been made.

"I think it was something we all recognised," said Johnson.

"We met with the players last week and had a frank discussion about (the coaching) and the good thing is we recognise it and we can improve it."

Johnson believes the inclusion of Flutey or Hape at inside centre will open the door for Mathew Tait to end his nomadic years and finally nail down the outside centre berth.

"I have felt a bit for Tait. It can be a little convenient sometimes to stick him on the bench because he is utility," Johnson admitted.

"He fitted nicely on the bench in the 2009 Six Nations and he was on the bench in Argentina and once during the autumn.

"It is probably a time for him to challenge for that 13 spot."

England head to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp in the week beginning January 25 before tackling Wales in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham on February 6.