England v France, Rugby World Cup, October 1
England put faith in Flood
ESPNscrum Staff
October 6, 2011
Johnson on playing Flood and Wilkinson
%]

Martin Johnson has selected Toby Flood at inside centre alongside Jonny Wilkinson for only the second time in his tenure for England's World Cup quarter final against France.

Flood comes into the England midfield in place of Mike Tindall who has been struggling with a dead leg in the run-up to the game. In further changes to the team that beat Scotland 16-12 in their final pool match, Tom Palmer takes over from Courtney Lawes at lock, Nick Easter replaces James Haskell at No.8 and Mark Cueto deputises for the suspended Delon Armitage on the left wing.

Lawes and Haskell both move on to the bench alongside Dylan Hartley, Alex Corbisiero - who fails to oust Matt Stevens from the No.1 shirt - and Simon Shaw while Richard Wigglesworth and Matt Banahan provide cover for the backs from the bench

Meanwhile France make just two changes to the side that lost to Tonga in their final game of the pool stages. Nicolas Mas is recalled at tight-head prop after recovering from a hamstring injury while Imanol Harinordoquy, despite his recent criticism of coach Marc Lievremont, replaces Raphael Lakafia at No.8.

Lakafia drops out of the matchday 22 altogether with Louis Picamoles coming on to the bench. Perpignan's David Marty is also among the substitutes as he replaces centre Fabrice Estebanez, who was banned for a dangerous tackle during the match against Tonga.

England: B Foden; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, T Flood, M Cueto; J Wilkinson, B Youngs; M Stevens, S Thompson, D Cole , L Deacon, T Palmer, Tom Croft, L Moody (capt), N Easter

Replacements: D Hartley, A Corbisiero, C Lawes, S Shaw, J Haskell, R Wigglesworth, M Banahan

France: M Medard, V Clerc, A Rougerie, M Mermoz, A Palisson, M Parra, D Yachvili, J-B Poux, W Servat, Nicolas Mas, P Pape, L Nallet, J Bonnaire, I Harinordoquy, T Dusautoir (capt)

Replacements: D Szarzewski, F Barcella, J Pierre, L Picamoles, F Trinh-Duc, D Marty, C Heymans.

Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: A Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referee: G Clancy (Ireland)
Television Match Official: S Veldsman (South Africa)

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.