Borthwick to lead England in NZ
Steve Borthwick has been named as England captain on their New Zealand tour next month.
The Bath lock has been handed leadership duties in the absence of regular skipper Phil Vickery, who misses appointments with the All Blacks in Auckland and Christchurch due to a knee injury.
Borthwick, capped 37 times, has recent experience of the role after acting as captain for England's Six Nations victory over Italy three months ago.
He takes charge of a 32-man squad - the first of Martin Johnson's reign as England manager - that includes six uncapped players.
The newcomers are London Irish wing Topsy Ojo, Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, Bristol prop Jason Hobson, Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, Irish hooker David Paice and his club colleague, lock Nick Kennedy.
Vickery apart, other absentees in New Zealand include fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who is undergoing shoulder surgery, Wasps lock Simon Shaw and Bristol hooker Mark Regan. Gloucester backs Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo have been dropped.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
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