Riki Flutey, the 28-year-old New Zealander, is one of four uncapped players included in Martin Johnson's first elite player squad as England manger but there is no place for Mike Tindall or Ben Kay.

It is thought Johnson hopes Flutey can help establish a new dynamism among the England backs, although the London Wasps back does not qualify for the national team until September under the three-year residency rule.

Jordan Crane, Dylan Hartley and Nick Kennedy have also been included in an England squad for the first time, while Charlie Hodgson is among a number of high-profile absentees after a disappointing tour of New Zealand.

Tindall and Kay have been relegated to the England Saxons squad along with recent Joe Worsley, Michael Lipman, Richard Wigglesworth, Topsy Ojo, David Strettle and Mike Brown, all of whom toured New Zealand. There is no place for Hodgson in either squad.

Josh Lewsey, the Wasps full back, returns to the senior England fold for the first time since the World Cup while Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody, both of Leicester Tigers, return from long-term injuries.

"The priority is to win games, it's as simple as that," Johnson said. "We'll be judged on the results so a lot of thought and detail has gone into the squads. There has been lots to take into consideration with new law changes and, going forward, how we play as a team.

"We need to be playing somewhere near our potential. If we can do that, then we will be competitive, that's our job as coaches: to let these players know what's expected of them.

"We picked certain guys for specific roles, that’s why there are some guys who are in there and some guys who people may have thought would be in there but aren't.

"But that's about how we are going to play as a team, we have an idea of that now, but things change. Right now this is the best 32 we had available to pick."

When asked if he could clarify his job description as England Team Manager, Johnson said: "I am in charge of the performance of the England rugby team, I am ultimately responsible for how we play on the field - it's as simple as that."

Johnson admitted the disappointing tour to New Zealand had played a big part in the selection. "I don't think there is a tougher task than going to play New Zealand away at the end of a tough season," he said.

"What did we find out? Some players stood up and competed pretty well at the top level. We found out something about everyone that went on the tour. Bits of that have been factored in the squad that we have picked today."

Johnson was keen to stress discipline would form a key part of his regime, with claims of an alleged rape by four England players of a teenage girl in Auckland having marred the tour.

"It [discipline] is one of the first things that will be addressed in light of what has happened," he said. "It is something that will be dealt with, the players will be very aware of it, even the guys that weren't there will be aware of what's happened and their responsibilities. They will be under no illusions.

"We trust the people we have picked, they are good characters, they wouldn't be in the squad otherwise. Although the allegations were very, very serious, I regard the 64 people we have picked in these squads are people of very good character."

England Elite Player Squad:

Forwards:
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)*
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)*
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Nick Kennedy (London Irish)*
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
Tim Payne (London Wasps)
Tom Rees (London Wasps)
Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
Matt Stevens (Bath Rugby)
Phil Vickery (London Wasps)

Backs:
Olly Barkley (Gloucester Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Riki Flutey (London Wasps)*
Shane Geraghty (London Irish)
Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps)
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
Pete Richards (London Irish)
Paul Sackey (London Wasps)
James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby)
Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)