Charlie Hodgson "controlled the game" and "showed a lot of maturity, " noted Johnson, who also singled out Dan Ward-Smith, Phil Dowson, Chris Robshaw, Dave Attwood, Geoff Parling, Brad Barritt and David Strettle as others who have pressed their claims.

BBC: England boss Martin Johnson annoyed by loss to Maori

Dowson's Saints switch makes him the latest Falcons player to quit the club, following prop David Wilson and lock Geoff Parling, who will join Bath and Leicester respectively at the end of the season.

BBC: Falcons continue to fly the nest