Six Nations: Jonny left out as England face France

It hasn't been a good week for the pin-up boys of English sport. First Becks with his snapped Achilles, and now Wilko, axed from England's side to face France because he is the Achilles.

It wasn't so long ago that both men could do no wrong in an England shirt, but age withers us all in the end, no matter how golden the balls once were. Jonny Wilkinson's omission from the side announced by Martin Johnson yesterday was only the third time in his 12-year international career that he's been dropped. The first time was back in 1999, when he was a callow 20-year-old, and then two years ago he stepped aside for Danny Cipriani, whose career rose and fell quicker than one of Jonny's drop goals.

The man who replaces Wilkinson on Saturday is Toby Flood, one of six new faces in an England side that is all that stands between France and a Six Nations' clean sweep. Four of the changes are in the backline, a wilderness of creativity so far this season. And among those charged with restoring the reputation of England's threequarters, are World Cup winner Mike Tindall in the centre, and the Northampton duo of full-back Ben Foden and wing Chris Ashton, the leading tryscorer this season in English rugby with 19 from 25 games.

It will be Ashton's first cap, and what a place to win it, Saturday night in Paris with the French going for the Grand Slam, the sort of occasion that will make or break the 22-year-old former rugby league player.

It's a bold selection all round from Johnson, a rebuke to his gathering mob of critics who have ridiculed England's paucity of quality in this Six Nations. England have scored just five tries in four matches and at times they've resembled a pub team with little shape or style. But Johnson remains defiant: "The perception that the team is shackled and inhibited is wrong," said the man who captained England to World Cup glory seven years ago. "We don't lack ambition, what we lack is accurate execution. It's holding us back. The mood of the team is 'we are better than what we are showing on the field'. We can keep on saying that, ad nauseam, but the team know they have to go and do it."

England have produced one outstanding game in each of the last three Six Nations championships – and always against France. Last season, having lost to Ireland and Wales, England destroyed the French 34-10. Can it happen a fourth time? Logic says no. No way. France have matured as a side in the 12 months, winning away in New Zealand in June and defeating world champions South Africa in Toulouse in November. And yet...

France have been taken by surprise by the number of changes. Prior to the announcement of England's new-look side, French coach Marc Lievremont had said: "The number 10 is traditionally an important player. We have the advantage of knowing him well. We are forewarned and we are telling ourselves that we will be facing the best Jonny Wilkinson."

Now France have to jiggle their game plan to prepare for Flood's more adventurous style of play. Similarly, they must work out how to deal with the bulk of Tindall in the centre as opposed to the pace of the dropped Mathew Tait. Then there's the counter-attacking of Ben Foden and the unknown quality that is Ashton. Add in the return of the indomitable Simon Shaw in the second row and the indefatigable Lewis Moody on the flank, and suddenly doubt might start creeping into the French psyche.

For a side renowned for their fragile temperament, France's toughest test on Saturday might be with themselves. They must believe that they really are superior to England, a side that has dominated recent encounters between the two nations, including the 2007 World Cup semi-final. Present on that occasion was wing Mark Cueto and he said yesterday: "Critics can't question our commitment and effort, but for one reason or another it is not quite clicking."

The odds are against England "clicking" on Saturday but then again, unburdened by expectation, perhaps they will. And what with this being the Cheltenham Festival week, it might be worth putting a few quid on an England victory next time you're in the bookies. ·