Six Nations Championship: Jonny Wilkinson admitted yesterday that last season's cataclysmic Six Nations defeat by France in Paris made him re-evaluate his role as an international outhalf.
Wilkinson was targeted by the French for special attention from the kick-off and England found themselves pinned back in their own half. The selection of the Sale outhalf Charlie Hodgson in the centre for Saturday's championship opener against the French may be seen as a reaction to what happened at the Stade de France 11 months ago.
France will not be able to analyse on video Wilkinson and Hodgson appearing in the same team because they have never done so. The rivals for the England outhalf jersey will be expected to combine to gain England the territory and width they lacked in Paris.
"I am a better player for the experience of losing in Paris last year," said Wilkinson. "It was a lesson I needed to learn and I constantly asked myself why I had not put the team in the right positions to win the game.
"I had a lot of time to think about what happened that day and, though Charlie is in the centre on Saturday, he is an outside-half in outstanding form for his club who has designs on playing in that position for England.
"I have played nearly all my games at 10 and I want to stay there for as long as I can in this team. The requirements of the position have changed over the years and are changing. You have to adapt to that and I like to think that I am able to adjust my game and improve."
Thomas Castaignede was yesterday left out of the side to face England. The Saracen made his international comeback last November after two years out with an Achilles tendon injury but Xavier Garbajosa will start in the centre with Gerald Merceron returning at outhalf.
"Thomas has complained this week of back trouble and he will have a scan to determine whether he can take his place on the bench," said the France manager Jo Maso.
Christian Califano will pack down at tight-head prop in place of suspended Peter de Villiers. The full back Clement Poitrenaud and wing Vincent Clerc are the other two changes to last year's grand slam team.
FRANCE: (v England) C Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain), A Rougerie (Montferrand), X Garbajosa (Stade Toulousain), D Traille (Pau), V Clerc (Stade Toulousain), G Merceron (Montferrand), F Galthie (Stade Français, capt), I Harinordoquy (Pau), Olivier Magne (Montferrand), S Betsen (Biarritz), O Brouzet (Montferrand), F Pelous (Stade Toulousain), C Califano (Saracens/Eng), R Ibanez (Castres), JJ Crenca (Agen). Replacements: J-B Rue (Agen), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), D Auradou (Stade Francais), S Chabal (Bourgoin), D Yachvili (Biarritz), F Gelez (Agen), T Castaignede (Saracens)
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