Six changes for England as Johnson re-casts midfield

MANAGER Martin Johnson has named a new-look midfield of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Manu Tuilagi for England’s final World Cup warm-up international against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Wilkinson has reclaimed the fly-half role from Toby Flood just a fortnight before England’s opening World Cup encounter against Argentina in Christchurch on 10 September.

Tuilagi made a try-scoring debut against Wales at Twickenham three weeks ago and returns to the team in place of Shontayne Hape, with Tindall moving to inside centre. Tindall, who continues as captain in the absence of Lewis Moody, will win his 72nd cap and draw level with Will Carling as England’s most-capped centre.

The team features six changes from the 19-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff and provides the strongest indication yet of Johnson’s first-choice World Cup side.