Jonny Wilkinson dropped by England for France clash
Wilkinson dropped as Johnson rings changes
Wednesday, 17, Mar 2010 04:44
By Michael Younger.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has been axed as England look to halt France's charge towards the Six Nations title and the Grand Slam in Paris this weekend.
With Martin Johnson appearing to have finally lost patience with an underperforming England side in this season's championships, the team sheet sees six changes to that of the line-up who faced Scotland last weekend at Murrayfield - with the dropping of Wilkinson the highest profile.
Leicester Tigers star Toby Flood has been handed the number 10 shirt ahead of the benched Wilkinson and he will be charged with inspiring a much-changed back division.
Delon Armitage and Mathew Tait have also been dropped while Ugo Monye is ruled out through injury; giving Northampton Saints duo Chris Ashton and Ben Foden the chance to impress on the international stage.
Ashton has been in sensational form this season, scoring 12 tries in the Premiership, while Foden has caught the eye with his cameos off the bench against Ireland and Scotland.
Adding the experience to the back-line is World Cup winner Mike Tindall, who replaces Tait at outside centre and the Gloucester man likely to be handed the role of halting French battering ram Mathieu Bastareaud - despite having only just returned to action.
There are two changes in the forwards with Wasps' Simon Shaw taking over from Tigers' Louis Deacon in the second row and Deacon's clubmate Lewis Moody returning in the back row with Joe Worsley moving to blind side and Stade Francais' James Haskell joining Wilkinson on the bench.
England have beaten France in each of their last three meetings, including twice in Paris in the 2008 Six Nations and the 2007 World Cup semi-final. But the French have been comfortably the best team in the championship this year and can wrap up a Grand Slam with a win on Saturday evening.
England team to play France on Saturday March 20th
England: Ben Foden, Mark Cueto, Mike Tindall, Riki Flutey, Chris Ashton, Toby Flood, Danny Care; Tim Payne, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Simon Shaw, Steve Borthwick (captain), Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody, Nick Easter.
Replacements: Steve Thompson, David Wilson, Louis Deacon, James Haskell, Ben Youngs, Jonny Wilkinson, Mathew Tait.