England pick Wilkinson & Farrell

[Anth]

England pick Wilkinson & Farrell

Wilkinson and Farrell will line up together at Twickenham

Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell have both been named in Brian Ashton's England team to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.

Fly-half Wilkinson has not played for England since the 2003 World Cup final because of injuries, and has only played 40 minutes in the last 12 weeks.

Former Great Britain rugby league star Farrell is picked at inside centre.

Jason Robinson returns on the wing, while Magnus Lund, Joe Worsley and Martin Corry make up the back row.

England's starting XV has been totally reshaped by Ashton in his first match in charge, with 11 personnel changes from the last Test under previous coach Andy Robinson.

Leicester's Harry Ellis has received a recall at scrum-half, and Gloucester's Mike Tindall makes his international return at centre.

Ashton has opted for Leicester's Louis Deacon alongside Danny Grewcock in the second row, while George Chuter gets the nod at hooker with Steve Thompson struggling with a neck injury.

Wilkinson's inclusion represents a major gamble, given his injury record over the last three years.

The 27-year-old, who has 52 England caps, has endured a horrendous run of luck, suffering injuries to his neck, shoulder, knee ligaments and, most recently, kidney.

He returned as a substitute for Newcastle at the weekend against Leicester, his first action since suffering a lacerated kidney in early November.

Wilkinson will have Saracens centre and former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell outside him at Twickenham.

Farrell missed the whole of his first season in union to injury, but has impressed at centre since switching from blind-side flanker.

"I'm delighted to announce a strong England 22 for what will be a very challenging match against Scotland on Saturday," said Ashton.

"It is well documented that I have been an admirer of Andy Farrell's career for a number of years and I'm looking forward to seeing him play rugby union for his country.

"I'm also pleased that Jason Robinson has decided to return from international retirement and that Jonny Wilkinson has returned to fitness after his recent injury."

England, the defending world champions, have finished fourth in the last two Six Nations and are on a dismal run of eight defeats in their last nine Tests.

But Ashton's appointment as head coach following Andy Robinson's departure has raised hopes that England can make a fresh start under new captain Phil Vickery.

England team to face Scotland:
I Balshaw (Gloucester); J Lewsey (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), A Farrell (Saracens), J Robinson (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); P Freshwater (Perpignan), G Chuter (Leicester), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lund (Sale Sharks), M Corry (Leicester).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), P Richards (Gloucester), T Flood (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).

BBC Sport Link

My opinion is that he has picked a decent team. Got plenty of experience there alongside some younger guys and that is whats needed in a decent team who will last. In two minds about Wilkinson being thrown back into the team after so long out, but if anyone can manage it it is him.

[irish_blue69]

Anth, this sounds like they have a good team picked with guys that know what they are doing. I am not familliar with sports from England, is this for rugby or for soccer.

[Anth]

This is Rugby, for the Six Nations tournament against Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy

Should be good this year - watching every match in the pub, methinks