Woodward hands Borthwick his big chance

ENGLAND team manager Clive Woodward today took a major gamble by handing Bath lock Steve Borthwick his first cap against France at Twickenham on Saturday, writes Chris Jones.

Borthwick is one of three changes to the England team that defeated Italy, with London Wasps hooker Phil Greening back after injury and Julian White, the Saracens prop, recalled at tight-head.

Borthwick, who has captained England A this season, was expected to be a replacement for the final Six Nations match of the season, with Wasps' Simon Shaw in line to win his 16th cap after impressive performances for his club.

However, Woodward has opted to replace broken jaw victim Danny Grewcock - who s i g n e d f o r B a t h f r o m Saracens today - with the 22-year-old Borthwick and utilise his lineout skills rather than Shaw's power in the tight.

"I didn't build up my hopes coming into this week and I only heard about my selection yesterday afternoon," said Borthwick. "I've been selected to do a particular job against France who will be very aggressive and you cannot afford to be intimidated against them."

Woodward said: "It was a close call between Simon Shaw and Steve Borthwick and if it was Martin Johnson who had been forced out by injury then I would have played Shaw."

Greening has been struggling to convince Wasps he is ready to complete entire matches after a long injury layoff with leg and hand problems and his replacement appearance against Newcastle and start in the win over Rotherham on Sunday both featured yellow cards for indisci-pline.

He did not complete either match, although his handling and support work against Rotherham suggested the 25-year-old was going to push strongly for a Lions place this summer. "Being injured and watching England play so well was one of the lowest points of my career and now I am back I want to make a big impression," said Greening.

"I am working on my discipline and have taken advice from Neil Back about this."

Dorian West, the Leicester hooker, makes way for Greening with Mark Regan, a try scorer against Italy, left out of both Woodward's squad and the England A side to face France A at Redruth on Friday.

The recall of White was widely predicted once Gloucester's Phil Vickery revealed a persistent neck muscle problem had flared up again. White started the pre-Christmas Test against Argentina when England opted for his strength and technique, attributes that will be needed against the abrasive French.

Jason Leonard has been selected despite the imminent birth of his second child while Jonny Wilkinson is also included, although there are concerns over a neck injury that results from his willingness to make big tackles.

This round of championships games - Wales take on Italy in Rome - offers the Lions selectors their final opportunity to see potential squad members in international action before they name the party to tour Australia in the summer.

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