"Unspecified medical reasons were proferred as the explanation for Vainikolo, a development project if ever there was one, not joining the Churchill Cup squad." Huw Richards reports from Twickenham

"He is very well respected among the squad, an established international player and a very good leader. He is a model player the way he approaches the game and was a natural choice to lead the squad."

Martin Johnson may have gone on to argue, in what is fast becoming one of his mantras, that the individual role of the captain is overrated, but his first major decision as England chief involved some familiar traits.

OK, so it was Steve Borthwick, newly appointed skipper for the tour to New Zealand, that he was talking about. But those quotes recall some, though not all, of those once tossed his way when he led England.

He also made it clear he's looked for some of his other qualities, but renowned hard man Danny Grewcock did not make it into the touring party. Just as well, in spite of his recent form for Bath, when you consider his disciplinary record in New Zealand.

Grewcock, though, does seem to have taken on a role that might be coming the way of some of the other veterans - Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey, Phil Vickery, Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody - officially listed as not considered for medical reasons. Johnson spoke of the value of the reflections of a player like Grewcock 'It was a very valuable conversation. He's been playing at the top for 10 or 12 years and there are no agendas there' on other Premiership second rows. Each of the rested veterans knows his place is up for grabs with younger contenders chasing their chance in New Zealand. A role as unofficial adviser and sounding-board to their old skipper as he feels his way in management may loom in lieu of an international recall.

Once that long list of 'not considereds' was digested it was evident the main reshaping was among the back three - perhaps the most criticized area of Brian Ashton's selections - and at hooker. Iain Balshaw and Leslie Vainikolo made neither the main 32-man squad, not the 28 going to Chicago for the Churchill Cup.

Balshaw's demise means Mike Brown, one of four Harlequins chosen in a reflection of their improvement, looks a strong bet to play the tests in New Zealand with Mathew Tait as his likely alternate. Vainikolo gives way to the man he replaced back in February, David Strettle, who'll hope that his luck has turned after his abysmal luck of the last year.

Unspecified medical reasons were proferred as the explanation for Vainikolo, a development project if ever there was one, not joining the Churchill Cup squad.

Topsy Ojo's squeezing out of Tom Varndell for the last wing spot - Varndell was officially designated first reserve, so on the basis of recent tours has a pretty good chance ot a trip to New Zealand - shows that a good Heineken Cup counts as a decent credential.

Three of the six uncapped players come from London Irish. Hooker David Paice figures in the other significant upheaval as one of the trio chosen ahead of recent incumbent George Chuter, consigned to the Saxons. Aggression and overseas heritage also help - Northampton's Dylan Hartley, whom Rob Andrew confirmed was on his way to the World Cup training squad before getting himself suspended last year - is one of the other rookies while the more established Lee Mears provides a more polishedly pacific option in the middle of the front row. Alongside them Bristol's Jason Hobson keeps up the Cornish prop quota in the absence of Vickery.

Nick Kennedy's line-out skills at last propel him into a full England squad, with Johnson arguing that whether or not he plays he'll learn from the experience of being there. He'll dice with Ben Kay and Tom Palmer for the place alongside Borthwick.

If the back-row has a more settled look the elevation of Will Skinner to lead the Saxons suggests that the talent that made him look a future test player when he broke through at Leicester might finally be coming to fruition at Quins.

Among the backs Danny Care has pushed ahead of Paul Hodgson among the youthful scrum-halves jostling behind Richard Wigglesworth. Danny Cipriani is presumably nailed on at 10 so long as he stays fit and out of Auckland's nightspots, but Paul's namesake Charlie ends a deserved recall to dice with Olly Barkley and Toby Flood for the other midfield playmaker spot. Messrs Tindall and Noon continue to battle for the straight man role, with Tindall's losing out for the captaincy confirming him in another - as this generation's successor to Rob Andrew and Richard Hill as the chap who could be captain and is always in the mix when they're appointed, but never quite seems to get the job.

Much of the interest in those occasions still comes from how Johnson adjusts to his new role. It was amusing, later in the afternoon, to read Will Carling's opinion - dating from 2000 - that while Johnson had been fine as a Lions captain he had insufficient interest in other aspects of leadership, notably rugby politics and dealing with the media, to be effective in charge of a national team.

Judge for yourself whether Carling was proved right by Johnson's on-field performance. What is not in doubt is that he has learnt his way in politics - playing his hand superbly in pursuing the job he now has - and is media-savvy enough to recognize that a manager/coach has to be more forthcoming than the grim chap who used to give England press conferences as captain.

There was a hint of management speak - Johnson the player would surely never have used a phrase like 'continuance process', an emphasis on collective attitude and some intriguing thoughts on the roots of international success :"You want your team to win. That's what it is all about. If you have a winning style and can play several different ways according to the context you're in, you've got a good chance".

Listening to that exposition of the importance of flexibility 'it is less about specific game plans and more about being able to adapt to the position you're in and find a way to score the points you need to win', it was hard not to reflect that that is what England's teams have mostly lacked - for all their other qualities - over the past couple of decades. The great exception to that was between 2001 and 2003, when of course Johnson was captain.