Planet Rugby

Thompson gets nod over Hartley

04th November 2009 11:59

Steve Thompson England

Starting at two: Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson will make his first international start since 2006 when England line up against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Brive hooker Thompson is joined by fellow 2003 Rugby World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody in the team to face the Wallabies.

Thompson last started for England against France in the 2006 Six Nations although he did come off the bench against Argentina at Old Trafford in June. He, Wilkinson and Moody will win their 49th, 71st and 54th caps respectively.

At the start of their international careers are uncapped duo Courtney Lawes and Ayoola Erinle.

Northampton lock Lawes, 20, played for England in the IRB Junior World Championship final last summer and was elevated to the Senior EPS as a replacement for injured number eight Nick Easter following impressive performances in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup.

29-year-old centre Erinle moved to Biarritz Olympique this summer after spells at Wasps and Leicester and was called into the squad last weekend as a replacement for the injured Mike Tindall.

England: 15 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 13 Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers), 12 Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints), 11 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers), 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, Captain), 4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), 3 Dave Wilson (Bath Rugby), 2 Steve Thompson (CA Brive), 1 Tim Payne (London Wasps).
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 17 Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby), 18 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 19 James Haskell (Stade Francais), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Andy Goode (CA Brive), 22 Ayoola Erinle (Biarritz Olympique).

Date: Saturday, November 7
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Tim Hayes (Wales)
Television match officials: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)

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