LONDON, 9 November 2004 — Jason Robinson will captain world champions England when they play Canada on Saturday with a team containing just four of the players who started the World Cup final 12 months ago.
The 30-year-old British Lion and former rugby league international replaces Jonny Wilkinson who has an arm injury.
“Jason is an outstanding member of the England team who has led by example for the three years he has been playing international rugby union,” coach Andy Robinson said yesterday ahead of his first test since replacing Clive Woodward.
The 22-man squad includes five Sale players, with Robinson playing at fullback and his teammate Charlie Hodgson taking Wilkinson’s place at flyhalf.
Henry Paul of Gloucester, also a former rugby league international, starts at centre for the first time while Mark Cueto, another Sale player, earns his first cap on the wing.
Robinson, center Mike Tindall, winger Josh Lewsey and hooker Steve Thompson are the only players who remain from the starting XV that beat Australia 20-17 in last November’s World Cup final.
Robinson, who scored a try in the final, has won 33 union caps since his debut as a substitute against Italy in February 2001, notching 19 tries.
