England want Shaw to pack a punch

MARTIN JOHNSON spent most of his playing career keeping Simon Shaw out of the England team and most of his latest incarnation as red rose manager doing the same.

But with France sending a giant forward pack to Twickenham for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown, Johnson has turned to the veteran Wasps lock to bring power and “punch” to an England side desperate for a win.

Shaw, 35, will make his first Test start in nearly a year in place of London Irish lock Nick Kennedy as one of three changes to the team beaten 14-13 by Ireland at Croke Park.