Wasps stung by snub

Simon Shaw: one of the Wasps players to miss out on an England call

Warren Gatland, the London Wasps director of rugby, today admitted he was bemused by the club's failure to get more players into the England squad for Sunday's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.

Lock Simon Shaw and outside-half Alex King were left out of the 22-man squad for Rome, with Bath players the beneficiaries. This has raised questions over whether Wasps, as Zurich champions, are being given the credit they are due.

Gatland said: 'I am surprised that as the best team in England, and possibly Europe, we have only three players in the match squad. I have no idea why this should be the case and I haven't spoken to Clive Woodward about it. Maybe other players and coaches have a bigger input into the squad than London Wasps.'

Wasps only have captain Lawrence Dallaglio, wing Josh Lewsey and flanker Joe Worsley in the England team.

The second row is an area where it could be claimed there is an anti-Wasps bias. Martin Johnson's retirement created a vacancy that Shaw, the Lions lock, seemed perfectly qualified to fill. He is in great form, stands 6ft 9in and weighs 19st - easily satisfying the size requirements demanded by

Woodward to tackle a hugely physical Italian team.

However, Shaw lost out to Danny Grewcock, of Bath, for the No4 jersey, while the other Bath lock, Steve Borthwick, was given the replacement role. England's forwards coach is Andy Robinson, the former Bath flanker and coach, and he would have had a significant input in choosing the second-row options.

Gatland says claims that Shaw struggles at the line-out are not relevant. 'The line-out is an easy excuse to explain why Simon isn't being picked because we all know that not a lot of ball is thrown to the front jumper in any team,' he said.

The debate over King was less contentious as his kicking to touch is weaker than either Grayson or Barkley. What King offers is vast experience and a clever footballing brain.

By choosing Grayson, Woodward took the sensible option as England have little preparation time.

Woodward also satisfied those calling for new blood by giving the replacement role to Barkley. It just happens that he plays for Bath.

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