England head coach Andy Robinson has demonstrated his faith in Mark van Gisbergen for the November 12 Test against Australia despite the Wasps full-back suffering a recent drop in form.
Van Gisbergen, who was born in Waikato, was promoted into the red rose squad in September, as soon as he qualified to play for England on residency grounds.
In three years with Wasps, Van Gisbergen had developed into the most consistently impressive full-back in the Premiership.
Since his call-up to the first England training squad of the year, Van Gisbergen has suffered an untimely dip in form with three disappointing performances against Sale, Edinburgh and Toulouse.
But Robinson has long admired the 27-year-old and now Van Gisbergen seems set to win his debut cap against the Wallabies from full-back.
Van Gisbergen is joined in the squad by uncapped duo Lee Mears, the Bath hooker, and Leicester lock Louis Deacon, who is likely to provide back-up for Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock.
Worcester open-side Pat Sanderson is set to win his first England cap since the 2001 tour of north America with Lewis Moody likely to be employed as blind-side flanker in place of the injured Joe Worsley.
Northampton winger Ben Cohen and Bath centre Olly Barkley, both of whom were omitted from the initial England training squad, have been rewarded with selection for their recent club form.
Robinson could not consider injured trio Worsley (knee), Alex Brown (neck) and Simon Shaw (back) as he trimmed his squad down to a match-day 22.
Robinson also omitted full-back Tom Voyce, centre Ollie Smith, fly-half Andy Goode, scrum-half Peter Richards, prop Perry Freshwater, injured lock Simon Shaw, and back-row duo Andy Hazell and Jamie Forrester.
England’s 22-man squad for the Test match against Australia on November 12:
Backs: O Barkley (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton), M Cueto (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps), H Ellis (Leicester), C Hodgson (Sale), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), M Van Gisbergen (Wasps).
Forwards: S Borthwick (Bath), M Corry (Leicester, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), C Jones (Sale), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), P Sanderson (Worcester), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester).
