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Rugby Union

Dallaglio named in starting XV

07/08/2007

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio has been handed his first England start for three years in this weekend's World Cup warm-up match against France at Twickenham.

The 2003 World Cup winner will start at number eight on Saturday – the day after his 35th birthday – in place of last week's four-try hero Nick Easter, but it is just one of 11 changes made by head coach Brian Ashton.

Last week's record-breaking 62-5 hammering of Wales gave Ashton the chance to have a look at several options ahead of the World Cup and he now clearly wants to give everyone a chance to impress.

Scrum-half Shaun Perry, front rows Andrew Sheridan and Mark Regan and lock Simon Shaw are the only players who started on Saturday to retain their places.

Among the players who come into the starting XV are Bath full-back Nick Abendanon, who starts at 15, Wasps team-mates Paul Sackey and Josh Lewsey who start on the wings and Bath's Olly Barkley replaces Jonny Wilkinson at stand-off as he drops to the bench.

Mike Catt, the England captain in the final match of the Six Nations campaign against Wales earlier this year, is handed the armband and starts in the centres alongside Newcastle's Jamie Noon.

In the forwards, Matt Stevens comes in at prop and Ben Kay joins Shaw in the second row.

Dallaglio's Wasps team-mate James Haskell will get the chance push his World Cup claims at flanker with Lewis Moody getting the nod at number seven.

Included among the replacements are Harlequins scrum-half Andy Gomarsall and another Wasps youngster Danny Cipriani.

Full England 22 to play France:Backs: Nick Abendanon (Bath), Paul Sackey (Wasps), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Mike Catt (London Irish, captain) Josh Lewsey (Wasps), Olly Barkley (Bath), Shaun Perry (Bristol);
Forwards: Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Mark Regan (Bristol), Matt Stevens (Bath), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Ben Kay (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester,) Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps).

Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), Martin Corry (Leicester), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Danny Cipriani (Wasps).

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