Foden feels for left out Saints pair

Published on Friday 4 June 2010 14:40

Ben Foden says his Saints team-mates Phil Dowson and Stephen Myler are unlucky not to be in the England squad.

Foden is part of Martin Johnson's 44-man party which will take the plunge Down Under this month, as they tour Australia and the New Zealand, and he will be joined on the trip by Courtney Lawes and Shane Geraghty.

But the full-back, who scored a try for the Red Rose in last Sunday's 35-26 win against the Barbarians at Twickenham, feels there could easily be five Franklin's Gardens goliaths making the journey.

He saw Dowson and Myler at close quarters last season and feels that the dynamic duo are capable of playing their way into the international fray.

Dowson, in particular, looks a good bet as he was widely recognised as one of the best second rows in the Guinness Premiership last season.

The former Newcastle Falcons skipper led Saints out on a number of occasions in the absence of regular captain Dylan Hartley - who missed the Australia tour through injury - and guided the side to an LV= Cup final win against Gloucester.

Dowson capped a fine campaign by being named in the Premiership team of the season but his form only saw him make it into the Saxons squad, where he will play alongside Myler and Lee Dickson.

Myler was first choice for Saints towards the end of the campaign, cementing his place ahead of Geraghty, who has failed to find his best form since the turn of the year.

But while the blonde bombshell is strutting his stuff in the Southern Hemisphere, Myler will be in America taking part in the Churchill Cup.

And Foden believes that the Saxons pair were rather unfortunate to have been overlooked by national boss Johnson.

"I'm probably a bit disappointed for Phil Dowson and maybe Stephen Myler because they've played very well," said the 24-year-old. "I've snuck in there and then there's Shane and Courtney."

So why is it that Saints have a plethora of England contenders right now?

"It's a tribute to Saints," Foden added. "They're playing great rugby and producing great English rugby players."

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Foden feels for left out Saints pair

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