Ashton makes tough call on Vickery

Pool A England v Tonga:An England coach who decides to omit his captain from a definitive World Cup match is either a selectorial genius or a short-term thinker paying the price for an earlier misjudgment.

Brian Ashton has never been frightened to do the unorthodox but leaving Phil Vickery out of the starting XV to face Tonga on Friday must rank among the toughest calls he has had to make.

The context cannot be ignored, because Ashton never imagined his captain would be suspended for two games in mid-tournament.

The Wasps prop is available again after serving his ban for tripping Paul Emerick of the US in the opening match, but his lack of match practice has counted against him before an encounter in which England cannot afford to start slowly. The selectors are backing Bath's Matt Stevens as their best bet.

In terms of form, Vickery cannot complain unduly. Stevens has been an integral part of an England scrum which has done well in the past two games. He is also 6½ years younger than the 31-year-old Vickery, a not insignificant factor with England seeking to set a livelier pace than in their games so far.

But imagine the All Blacks' coach, Graham Henry, telling Richie McCaw he was not needed for a game of similar significance. Or Jake White advising John Smit the Springboks would be better off with a different hooker.

There is a thin line between rewarding individual form and shattering close-knit squad cohesion.

In asking a slightly startled Martin Corry to continue as captain, Ashton can rest assured England will be led by a man who has the respect of the entire squad.

"The captaincy was a secondary issue," said the head coach. "Phil hasn't played for two or three weeks. Matt has scrummaged pretty well and he makes a big impact around the field when he gets the ball in his hands."

Vickery, in short, has ended up paying a higher than expected price for his trip on Emerick. "I suspect Phil has not been the happiest man in the tournament, that's for sure," muttered Ashton.

History is littered with examples of captains who held their place for reasons of status rather than form and whose sides consequently suffered.

With Steve Borthwick and Lewis Moody replacing the battered Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley - Tom Rees and Jason Robinson being unavailable because of thigh and hamstring problems respectively - Stevens is concerned with justifying the public faith his coaches have shown in him. He is confident the frontrow can again provide a solid platform.

"I would have been probably quite angry if I hadn't made it," he said. "It's a massive compliment because Vicks is one of those players over the last five or six years who has shown the way forward on the pitch. I wasn't expecting it, but psychologically you've got to back yourself. You know you've got a mountain to climb, but you've got to prove you are better than the captain. I was always told by the selectors if I did that I would be picked no matter what."

Lawrence Dallaglio is back on the bench and Jonny Wilkinson starts a second match in succession. England's outhalf is among those less than convinced by the new Gilbert balls being used at this tournament. "I missed a couple of kicks against Samoa which were very heavy. Both shifted quite a way, right to left, which with no wind is quite unusual for me."

The wing Paul Sackey yesterday missed a training session, but is expected to be fit to face Tonga.

ENGLAND (v Tonga, Parc des Princes, Friday): J Lewsey; P Sackey, M Tait, O Barkley, M Cueto; J Wilkinson, A Gomarsall; A Sheridan, G Chuter, M Stevens, S Borthwick, B Kay, M Corry (capt), L Moody, N Easter. Replacements: L Mears, P Vickery, L Dallaglio, J Worsley, P Richards, A Farrell, D Hipkiss.