Poms drop Jonny

March 17, 2010
Posted by Boertjie

England dropped Jonny Wilkinson on Wednesday from their starting side to play France in the Six Nations international in Paris on Saturday, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced.

AFP

The flyhalf paid the price for failing to spark England’s backs in their lacklustre 15-15 draw away to Scotland last weekend, with the Toulon stand-off’s place taken by former Newcastle understudy Toby Flood.

It was only the third time in his 77-cap career for England that Wilkinson, rugby union’s record international points scorer, had been dropped when fit.

The 30-year-old stand-off was replaced by Paul Grayson in England’s team to play South Africa in the quarter-finals of the 1999 World Cup in Paris by then coach Clive Woodward.

Wilkinson’s place was also taken two years ago by the now out-of-favour Danny Cipriani against Ireland after another poor display against the Scots.

But now he has been left out by England manager Martin Johnson – his captain when Wilkinson struck the extra-time drop-goal that won the 2003 World Cup final against Australia in Sydney.

Wilkinson was replaced early in the second half at Murrayfield by Flood after suffering a head injury. But he was sufficiently fit to be named on the bench by Johnson on Wednesday.

And Wilkinson, who now plays his club rugby for French side Toulon, was not alone in being dropped by Johnson, who made six changes in all to his Murrayfield starting side.

Full-back Ben Foden was handed his first Test start after Delon Armitage, sent back to London Irish on Tuesday, was dropped.

Meanwhile Northampton’s former Wigan rugby league wing Chris Ashton was set for his England debut after he came in to replace Ugo Monye, who suffered a neck injury against Scotland.

The 22-year-old Ashton is the leading try-scorer in the English Premiership so far this season with 12 in 14 appearances.

And there was a return for World Cup-winning centre Mike Tindall, only recently back from a hamstring injury, in what appeared to be a bid to strengthen England’s midfield after Grand Slam chasing France recalled the powerful Mathieu Bastareaud in the only change to their side.

Mathew Tait dropped down to the bench to make way for Tindall.

Up front, Lewis Moody returned to England’s starting back-row after his replacement role against Scotland. Moody was down at openside with Joe Worsley moving across to blindside and Stade Francais’s James Haskell on the bench.

Veteran lock Simon Shaw, fit after a shoulder injury, replaced Louis Deacon in the second row where England captain Steve Borthwick was cleared to start despite a knee problem.

England have won just twice this Six Nations, against Wales and Italy, and lost to defending champions Ireland before their draw with Scotland.

England:

15. Ben Foden, 14. Mark Cueto, 13. Mike Tindall, 12. Riki Flutey, 11. Chris Ashton, 10. Toby Flood, 9. Danny Care, 8. Nick Easter, 7. Lewis Moody, 6. Joe Worsley, 5. Steve Borthwick (captain), 4. Simon Shaw, 3. Dan Cole, 2. Dylan Hartley, 1. Tim Payne

Substitutes: 16. Steve Thompson, 17. David Wilson, 18. Louis Deacon, 19. James Haskell, 20. Ben Youngs, 21. Jonny Wilkinson, 22. Mathew Tait

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13 Comments

  1. Boertjie Boertjie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 3:38 pm Reply to this comment

    failing to spark England’s backs in their lacklustre 15-15 draw
    ======
    But I thought this is the
    kind of game Martin Johnson
    is advocating – dour, winning
    rugby?
    :roll:

  2. JT_BOKBEFOK! JT says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 3:46 pm Reply to this comment

    Great to see the guys like Foden and Ashton get a shot! the two most exciting players in Engalnd!
    BUT FFS! Why SHAW and TINDALL?? Johno can just as well pack out his boots and play! :cuckoo:
    There are loads of young talented players in the GP for example Hipkiss at 13 or Lawes etc. Gives the youngsters a shot! NOTHING TO LOSE if you do that but now you are losing your supporters! (I have never been one but I respected you – now you are losing that too!) :censored:

  3. Ollie_ Shark Attack Ollie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 3:52 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to JT @ 3:46 pm:

    Go Les Bleus :pot:

  4. JT_BOKBEFOK! JT says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 3:55 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to Ollie @ 3:52 pm:

    of course but I would have liked to have seen a competative game :roll:

  5. Ollie_ Shark Attack Ollie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 4:30 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to JT @ 3:55 pm:

    Why??? 36 – 0 Had a nice ring to itin 2007, something similar again would be quite fine. :lol:

  6. manvanstaal manvanstaal says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 5:32 pm Reply to this comment

    Shame, I almost feel sorry for them.

    No wait, no I don’t. :satansmoking:

  7. JT_BOKBEFOK! JT says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 5:54 pm Reply to this comment

    It is no fun beating them by 36-0 if everybody does it! :rant: Then it is like beating Italy or Samoa :whatever:

  8. Methos The French Stormer Methos says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 10:46 pm Reply to this comment

    Allez le Bleu !!!!

    Cheers

  9. Boertjie Boertjie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 10:50 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to Methos @ 10:46 pm:

    Kan jy dit al sê dat dit klink
    of daar snot in jou toe neus is?
    :wink:

  10. Methos The French Stormer Methos says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 10:55 pm Reply to this comment

    Ek het op die stadium sinus so dit werk perfek uit – maar ek kom al reg met die taal en die aksent.

    Ons gaan elke Maandag en Vrydag vir klasse vir Frans en daar is ‘n meisie van Nouvelle Zealand daar – sy praat hom die frans met ‘n erg englse aksent – vir ons is dit makliker – ons ken mos baie mense wat brei in SA en die area waar ons bly praat die mense almal met so tipe aksent – kak moeilik om te verstaan – ons kan al vir Sarkosy – wat op TV praat perfek volg maar by die klub moet ons mense vra om STADIG te praat.

    Cheers

  11. Boertjie Boertjie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 11:01 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to Methos @ 10:55 pm:

    En hoe gaan dit met die rugby?
    Kry jy gereeld span, en waar
    is jou span op die log?
    Spel daar so vuil as om hier
    teen die Rising Sunsets te
    speel?

  12. Methos The French Stormer Methos says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 11:08 pm Reply to this comment

    Gaan goed met die rugby – ek is nou besig met die write up wat ek belowe het – ek het nog elke game begin behalwe 2 – een waar my licence geexpire het en die klub dit nie betyds kon hernu nie en een omdat ek vir ‘n game gesuspend was – as jy hier 2 geelkaarte binne 60 dae kry tel dit as rooi en jy mis 2 weke se rugby – gelukkig was daar ‘n week se rus.

    Ons le 2′de op die log – 17 games gespeel en 14 gewen – die games wat ons verloor het was met 3 punte in die 84 min – met 3 punte teen die span wat eerste le op hulle veld en met 2 punte nou die dag teen die span wat 4′de le weg – na die ref ‘n penalty try gegee het 18m van die lyn af vir persoon wat van die kant af ‘n ruck join – ridiculous!!!! Oor die alegemeen is die rugby skoner hier – daar is vuis slaan – maar man tot man – behalwe teen die span teen wie ons met 2 punte verloor het – hulle slaan van agter en eyegouge etc – dis hoekom ons verloor het – hulle het ons uit game geslaan – my geKO vir so 4 min.

    Cheers

    Cheers

  13. Boertjie Boertjie says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 11:15 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to Methos @ 11:08 pm:

    Thanks, goed om te hoor.
    Sien uit na die storie.

    :cheers:

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