Sydney: England coach Martin Johnson has made two changes for the second test against Australia in Sydney tomorrow, but resisted the temptation to hand a starting place to Johnny Wilkinson at the scene of his greatest triumph.
Wilkinson's extra-time drop-goal won the 2003 World Cup at the same venue against Australia, but Johnson opted to stick with Toby Flood at fly-half despite an unconvincing performance in the 27-17 first test defeat in Perth last weekend.
Rationale
"There's always a rationale for playing Jonny but we are happy with what we have got with Toby," Johnson said yesterday. Shontayne Hape will also retain his spot at inside centre, with Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes the two players brought into Johnson's team.
Youngs will start at scrumhalf in place of Danny Care after making an impression off the bench in Perth, while Lawes comes in at lock ahead of veteran Simon Shaw.
"This is a great opportunity for Ben, who has been with us since the middle of the Six Nations... the same for Courtney," Johnson, the winning England captain in 2003, said.
"Ben brings something different to Danny but it's not a reflection on Danny's performance. It's just an opportunity to get Ben on the field.
"It's a tough call on Danny, who has not done anything particularly wrong. Simon Shaw certainly hasn't done anything wrong but Courtney Lawes has really stepped up in the last few weeks since we have been together. He is very athletic and gets around the field and is very aggressive."
Another 2003 World Cup winner, centre Mike Tindall, has recovered from a leg injury to retain his spot but there was no place in the 22-man squad for Mathew Tait, whose place on the bench has been taken by Delon Armitage.
The England team:
Ben Foden, Mark Cueto, Mike Tindall, Shontayne Hape, Chris Ashton, Toby Flood, Ben Youngs, Tim Payne, Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody (captain), Nick Easter.
All blacks test
Welsh team chosen
The Wales rugby team, who will face the All Blacks in the first of two Tests in Dunedin on Saturday, were named yesterday.
They include: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Tom Prydie, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones (captain), Gavin Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Paul James. Reserves: Huw Bennett, John Yapp, Deiniol Jones, Rob McCusker, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies.
