England forced into changes

England had to reshuffle their pack last night after suffering an injury blow ahead of the World Cup warm-up clash with France on Saturday.

Number eight Joe Worsley was forced to withdraw from the team after twisting his ankle in training and will be replaced in the starting XV by Sale’s Alex Sanderson. Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will take Sanderson’s spot on the bench.

The loss of Worsley is a blow to the England camp, given his outstanding performance in the record 43-9 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday.

But Sanderson now has a golden chance to press his World Cup claims at the Stade Velodrome in what will be the toughest of England’s three pre-World Cup fixtures.

The side will be led by Dorian West, who will become England’s oldest first-time skipper as he takes the reins just five weeks before his 36th birthday.

However, the former police officer is unfazed and believes the considerable Heineken Cup experience gained with twice-European champions Leicester will be of benefit as England target a 15th successive Test win.

“We’ve played in the south of France against teams like Toulouse and Pau, so I know what to expect on Saturday,” West said.

“The French scrum is always hard to play against, and I have got a tremendous amount of respect for them.

“I feel very honoured to have been given the captaincy. This is a very good squad of players, and it is nice to be thought of as being a leader within that group.

“I have always had a lot to say out on the pitch – it is about standing up and being counted – and I will be up there in the front of it on Saturday, getting stuck in and expecting everyone else to do the same.”

French coach Bernard Laporte is expected to name a full-strength side when he unveils his starting XV later today.

And France – the last team to beat England in a Test match almost 18 months ago – will probably start as favourites, given their impressive record in Marseille.

New Zealand and Australia have both suffered defeats at the 60,000-capacity home of Olympic Marseille, which last night staged a Champions League qualifying clash between the local heroes and Austrian side Rapid Vienna.

The atmosphere will reach fever-pitch on Saturday night, especially as psychological points are at stake ahead of a possible World Cup semi-final tussle between France and England in Sydney on November 16.

And for West, it is a chance to confirm his World Cup squad place as one of three England hookers alongside Steve Thompson and Mark Regan.

“I am probably fitter now than I have ever been. I have done everything that has been asked of me fitness-wise, and I certainly intend to keep going for as long as I can,” he added.

“If I am lucky enough to be selected for the World Cup, then we will see what happens after that. I have never been to a World Cup, so I will be over the moon if I get picked.”

Having thrust himself back into Woodward’s plans – he had a two-year wait between winning his second and third England caps – West does not intend letting the chance slip.

And a solid display at the heart of England’s victory bid on Saturday would surely secure World Cup status.

“It took us about 30 seconds to decide that Dorian was the best man to captain this side,” Woodward said.

“He has captained the England A team very, very well, and it was a very straightforward choice.”

England, having been based at a rural retreat just outside Aix-en-Provence for the past three days, moved into Marseille today, where they were greeted by ever-increasing temperatures.

The heat – close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit – and stamina-sapping humidity, is not expected to relent, suggesting that Saturday night’s showdown could become a survival of the fittest.