New England manager Martin Johnson has named six uncapped players in a 32-man squad for next month's two-test tour of New Zealand.

In Johnson's first selection since taking over from former coach Brian Ashton, London Irish trio Nick Kennedy, David Paice and Topsy Ojo were included for the first time alongside Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care, Bristol prop Jason Hobson and hooker Dylan Hartley of Northampton.

Lock Steve Borthwick will captain the side in the absence of injured prop Phil Vickery, who is recovering from a knee ligament injury. Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out last month and requires shoulder surgery.

Johnson's contract does not begin until July 1 and he will stay in England with his pregnant wife throughout the June tour.

"Would I like to be out there? Of course I would, but circumstances are what they are," Johnson told reporters at Twickenham.

"It's awkward not being there and it's not ideal but I will get updated on all the day-to-day issues that happen and (will be involved) with selection obviously.

"Sitting here right now we have a fairly good idea of who will be in the starting 15 and a determination in the way we want to play."

England's Elite Rugby director Rob Andrew will oversee the Tests in Auckland on June 14 and Christchurch on June 21 against an All Blacks side without a number European-based players.

"There has never been a bad All Black team in the history of the game," Johnson said when asked whether New Zealand would be weakened by their policy of not selecting foreign-based players.

"They also had one of the most talented squads that ever went to the World Cup. They'll come back after that disappointment determined to reach their performance levels."

New Zealand lost to hosts France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals.

For New Zealand-born Hartley, it could mean a belated first cap after being banned for six months last year for eye-gouging. The suspension ruled him out of contention for a place in England's World Cup squad.

"He has long been seen as a potential international player," Johnson said of the only non-top division player selected.

Along with Wilkinson and Vickery, the likes of Simon Shaw, Lewis Moody, Josh Lewsey, Harry Ellis and James Simpson-Daniel were not considered due to injury.

Backs: Mike Brown, Paul Sackey, David Strettle, Topsy Ojo, Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Jamie Noon, Toby Flood, Olly Barkley, Danny Cipriani, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Peter Richards, Danny Care.

Forwards: Matt Stevens, Andrew Sheridan, Tim Payne, Jason Hobson, Lee Mears, Dylan Hartley, David Paice, Nick Kennedy, Steve Borthwick (captain), Ben Kay, Tom Palmer, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Michael Lipman, Tom Rees, Nick Easter, Luke Narraway.

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