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RBS NATIONS: Wigglesworth replaces Gomarsall for England

Scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth is to make his first Test start for England after being named as one of three changes in coach Brian Ashton's side for Saturday's Six Nations rugby union international away to France.

The 24-year-old Sale back replaced World Cup No. 9 Andy Gomarsall, the man he came off the bench for on his Test debut in Rome during England's narrow 23-19 victory over Italy during the second round of the Six Nations on Feb. 10.

Ashton made it clear the 33-year-old Gomarsall, omitted completely from the matchday 22, had been dropped on form grounds and not because of a back spasm that ruled him out of playing for Harlequins last weekend.

"He's not really hit the sort of form he showed at the World Cup last year. We needed more energy to raise tempo of game but that applies to the whole team," Ashton told reporters at a news conference at the squad's hotel in Bath on Tuesday.

"We hope Richard Wigglesworth will increase the tempo of our game and pick the right variations. He's a very good all-round player," Ashton said.

But Ashton insisted Gomarsall, whose England career began in 1996, was not finished as a Test player.

"Andy Gomarsall has said he wants to fight back which is what you want to hear as a coach," he said.

Wigglesworth was one of three changes to the starting side with fit-again props Phil Vickery, the England captain, and Andrew Sheridan returning in place of Matt Stevens and Tim Payne.

Vickery, resuming the captaincy from lock Steve Borthwick, was laid low by a stomach bug while Sheridan was sidelined by an infected cut on his heel.

The bench featured the uncapped duo of London Irish scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, taking Wigglesworth's spot amongst the replacements, and Tom Croft, the highly regarded Leicester back-row.

Hodgson, like Wigglesworth, has risen to prominence this season and his England cause would have been helped by an impressive display for London Irish in their win over Leicester at the weekend.

Ashton said of Hodgson: "He's the sort of scrumhalf I like. He reminds me of an Australian Test wicketkeeper, like Rodney Marsh or Ian Healy, who are always encouraging their side in the field when things aren't going so well, he never shuts up."

England, currently fourth in the table, struggled to impose themselves during the second half against both Wales and Italy.

"In both games, we've not played like we've wanted to but I think we've only been one score away from pulling away before halftime," Ashton said.

Reigning champions France, under new coach Marc Lievremont, top the standings after wins over both Scotland and Ireland and have reverted to their traditional running game, largely abandoned under Bernard Laporte.

Ashton, who described the Stade de France, as the "best rugby ground in the world," said: "From a personal point of view, this is my favorite game.

"I'm delighted to see France playing the sort of rugby they are playing. It would be great if we could beat them at their own game," Ashton said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lievremont announced changes across the team that hung on to beat Ireland 26-21.

But Ashton said it was England who'd influenced French selection, not the other way round.

"I think they've second-guessed what we would pick and picked something to match what they think we would do," he said.

Saturday's match is the first Anglo-French clash since October's World Cup semi-final at the Stade de France where England won 14-9.

England Team

Iain Balshaw, Paul Sackey, Jamie Noon, Toby Flood, Lesley Vainikolo, Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth, Nick Easter, Michael Lipman, James Haskell, Steve Borthwick, Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery (captain), Mark Regan, Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Ben Kay, Tom Croft, Paul Hodgson, Danny Cipriani, Mathew Tait.
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