Rugby: Hodgson handed England debut

Charlie Hodgson will make his England debut in Saturday’s Test match against Romania at Twickenham.

The Sale fly-half, who turned 21 yesterday, was among England’s replacements when they beat world champions Australia three days ago and has now been elevated to a starting XV showing seven changes and two positional switches.

England boss Clive Woodward has predictably rested several of his big guns from the starting side, with Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Catt, Kyran Bracken and Danny Grewcock all on the bench.

Hodgson, who has been in outstanding Zurich Premiership form for Sale, will be partnered at halfback by Leicester’s versatile Austin Healey.

Healey switches from the right wing, allowing Northampton’s Ben Cohen a return in the number 14 jersey.

Regarding Hodgson, Woodward said: ‘‘The number 10 position is a pivotal one and I want Charlie to lead the team.

‘‘Hopefully, he will play exactly the way he has been playing for Sale, and I am looking forward to watching him on Saturday.’’

Bath pair - centre Mike Tindall and hooker Mark Regan - are back to make their first England starts for some time, while veteran prop Jason Leonard earns his 93rd cap and exciting Leicester flanker Lewis Moody features in the back row.

In selecting Leonard, dropped for the Australia game, Woodward makes the veteran Harlequin world rugby’s most-capped forward of all time.

His 93rd England appearance will see Leonard overtake the legendary former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick.

Moody’s Leicester colleague Neil Back will again captain a team that shows eight survivors in the side from the Australia match.

Leeds lock Tom Palmer has been bracketed with Bath’s Steve Borthwick for one of the second row places, with Woodward yet to announce who will start against the Romanians.

Woodward said that Borthwick had suffered a knock during Bath’s Premiership victory against London Irish two days ago.

A decision of his fitness will be made tomorrow morning, with Palmer on standby to come in if Borthwick is ruled out.

Should Palmer be required, then he will win his second cap after making a debut appearance during England’s North America tour earlier this year.

Injured England captain Martin Johnson, meanwhile, is likely to make his comeback in Leicester’s league clash at Sale on Saturday.

Second-row giant Johnson has been sidelined since breaking his hand more than four weeks ago, but if he proves his fitness this weekend, then he could return for England’s Twickenham appointment with South Africa in 11 days’ time.

England last played Romania in 1994 when they posted a half century of points and, even with a team showing several changes, Woodward’s men should triumph easily.

England team to play Romania at Twickenham on Saturday: J Robinson (Sale), B Cohen (Northampton), M Tindall (Bath), W Greenwood (Harlequins), D Luger (Saracens), C Hodgson (Sale), A Healey (Leicester); G Rowntree (Leicester), M Regan (Bath), J Leonard (Harlequins), B Kay (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath)/T Palmer (Leeds), L Moody (Leicester), N Back (Leicester, capt), J Worsley (Wasps).

Replacements: D West (Leicester), J White (Bristol), D Grewcock (Bath), A Sanderson (Sale), K Bracken (Saracens), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Catt (Bath).