Abbott gets England World Cup debut

Wasps centre Stuart Abbott will make his World Cup debut when England tackle Samoa at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.

South Africa-born Abbott wins his third cap, taking over from Harlequins’ Will Greenwood, who has returned home on compassionate leave to be with his pregnant wife.

England head coach Clive Woodward has made several changes from the side that defeated South Africa 25-6 in Perth last weekend.

Behind the scrum, wing Jason Robinson switches to full-back, with Bath’s Iain Balshaw making his first start of the tournament on the right wing, and Josh Lewsey is rested.

Abbott, whose mother hails from Manchester, partners Mike Tindall in midfield, with Matt Dawson recovering from a hamstring injury to partner Jonny Wilkinson at half-back.

Woodward will field an entirely new front row combination of Jason Leonard, who wins his 109th cap, hooker Mark Regan and Leicester tighthead Julian White.

And one switch in the back row sees Wasps flanker Joe Worsley taking over from Lewis Moody.

Woodward, aware of the threat that unbeaten Samoa could pose, is taking nothing for granted, a fact emphasised with the selection of Wilkinson, skipper Martin Johnson and number eight Lawrence Dallaglio.

There is a powerful look to the replacements’ bench, with hooker Steve Thompson, prop Phil Vickery and Moody all featuring.

But there is also a place for Bath back Mike Catt. If Catt gets on, then it will be his first England appearance since the Six Nations champions met South Africa at Twickenham almost two years ago.

In addition to Greenwood, two other players also were not considered for selection.

Second-row forward Danny Grewcock is still recovering from a broken toe sustained during the warm-up when England met Georgia earlier this month, while flanker Richard Hill has still to shrug off a hamstring problem.

It will be England’s first game against Samoa since 1995, when Dawson and Dallaglio both made their first England starts.

England team to play Samoa: Melbourne, Sunday: J Robinson (Sale Sharks), I Balshaw (Bath), S Abbott (Wasps), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Dawson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), M Regan (Leeds), J White (Leicester), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps).

Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), M Catt (Bath), D Luger (Perpignan).