Woodward recalls Dallaglio

Lawrence Dallaglio has been chosen to play in Saturday's World Cup warm-up game against the United States at Twickenham four days before facing charges of drug taking and bringing the game into disrepute. The Wasps forward is recalled at number eight for his first game at any level since May.

Clive Woodward, the England coach, again declared his belief that the former England captain was innocent of the charges laid against him by the Rugby Football Union after a two-month investigation by an independent tribunal. He hoped next week's RFU disciplinary hearing would come up with "the right answer."

Woodward has been consistent in backing Dallaglio since he resigned as captain in May and, though it is the RFU which has brought the charge of taking recreational drugs, the coach had cleared his selection with the union.

Dallaglio will remain under wraps until after the RFU hearing but he issued a printed statement yesterday, thanking Woodward and the squad for their support and declaring himself to be "in excellent shape."

Inevitably his selection overshadowed other important changes that could result in a new-look England pack for the World Cup. The front row is revamped, with Graham Rowntree, Phil Greening and Phil Vickery replacing Jason Leonard, Richard Cockerill and Darren Garforth, and in the second row Tim Rodber has lost his place to Danny Grewcock. Dallaglio replaces Martin Corry.

Clearly Woodward wants to scrutinise as many players as possible under Test conditions before naming his World Cup squad of 30. So some of the changes may not be all that significant. But Greening could become the first-choice hooker for the World Cup in view of Cockerill's stale performance in Australia. Rowntree, too has recovered the sharpness that propelled him into the England pack five years ago.

Behind the scrum Woodward has kept faith with Jonny Wilkinson at out-half while giving Matt Dawson the number nine shirt in the absence of Kyran Bracken, who has a back injury.

England (v USA at Twickenham on Saturday) - M Perry (Bath); D Luger (Saracens), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), A Healey (Leicester); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Dawson (Northampton); G Rowntree (Leicester), P Green- ing (Sale), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester) capt, D Grewcock (Saracens), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Wasps), N Back (Leicester). Replacements: D Stimpson (Leicester), M Catt (Bath), P Grayson (Northampton), T Rodber (Northampton), T Woodman (Gloucester), W Green (Wasps), N McCarthy (Gloucester).