Smith was right to be ruthless - Morley - Sport in brief

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Coach Tony Smith has wielded the axe following a dismal World Cup in which England won just one of their four matches, naming just 11 survivors in his 24-man squad for the games against France, Australia and New Zealand.

"It's great that we've got a bit of fresh blood there," said Morley, who at 32 is the elder statesman of the squad.

Leon Pryce, Rob Burrow, Ade Gardner and Paul Wellens were among the high-profile absentees to make way for the next generation of players as Smith looks ahead to the next World Cup in 2013.

Sam Tomkins, Kyle Eastmond and Richie Myler, who were short-listed for the Super League young player of the year award which went to Tomkins, make the squad, along with Scott Moore, Ryan Hall and Sam Burgess, who are all 21 or under.

Four of the youngsters were in the side which beat France 66-12 in Paris in June.

Morley added: "Tony has been pretty ruthless, with the backs in particular, but if you look at how they performed in the World Cup, it's not a total shock or surprise. They'll admit themselves they didn't play particularly well."

Smith ruled out a recall for Leeds' in-form centre Keith Senior, who announced his retirement from the international game at the start of the year, but insists he has not closed the door on the other World Cup casualties.

"The door is never shut on anybody unless they retire or bow out of the game," he said. "As you see in the Australian squad, Nathan Hindmarsh has been recalled after two years so the same thing could happen at this level as well.

"All the young people we've chosen we think are ready for the next step. We're building for the future as well but we feel they're ready for the experience now."