No start for Jonny in England rugby team
There was no room for sentiment as struggling England kept Jonny Wilkinson as a bench player for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies in Sydney.
The ANZ Stadium crowd would no doubt love to see veteran five eighth Wilkinson run out as a starter on the ground where he achieved rugby immortality with his extra-time drop goal against Australia to win the 2003 World Cup.
But manager Martin Johnson, the 2003 Cup-winning captain, retained Toby Flood at five eighth and Shontayne Hape at inside centre on Thursday while promoting Ben Youngs at halfback ahead of Danny Care and Courtney Lawes at lock at the expense of veteran Simon Shaw.
Youngs made a lively impression off the bench in England's 27-17 defeat to the Wallabies in the first Test in Perth last Saturday.
Both Youngs and Lawes will bring a level of dynamism to the England side after they paid the price for a lack of pace and penetration in the first Test.
Another 2003 World Cup hero, centre Mike Tindall, has recovered from a corked leg to retain his spot but there was no place in the 22-man squad for Mathew Tait, whose seat on the bench has been taken by Delon Armitage.
England: 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 (capt), Nick Easter. Res: George Chuter, David Wilson, Simon Shaw, James Haskell, Danny Care, Jonny Wilkinson, Delon Armitage.
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