England coach Clive Woodward has made four changes to his side as they prepare to take on France in their RWC semi final clash at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium on Sunday.
Veteran prop Jason Leonard drops to the bench, replaced by Trevor Woodman, while flanker Richard Hill has overcome a lingering hamstring injury to rejoin England’s back row.
In the backs Josh Lewsey returns at full back, Jason Robinson switching to the wing to take the place of the dropped Dan Luger.
In form centre Mike Catt is paired with Will Greenwood in preference to Mike Tindall, who drops back to the bench.
Catt helped steady England after coming on for Luger in the second half of the 28-17 quarter-final win over Wales in Brisbane.
Woodward confident
Despite mixed form in the lead up to this match, Woodward is confident his side can live up to their pre-Tournament favourites tag.
“Test match rugby is about winning and we've got a winning mentality even though we've not been playing that well," said Woodward. "Clearly France comes into the match with the better form, but at 20:00 on Sunday night you can tear all the postscripts up and it will be 15 v 15.”
England number 8 Lawrence Dallaglio predicts the semi final will be physical, with the forward clash going a long way to deciding the winner.
"France play a very territorial game and they have a very strong, attacking front five. Confrontation in the pack will be the telling point of the game."
England:
[From 15 to 1] Josh Lewsey; Jason Robinson, Will Greenwood, Mike Catt, Ben Cohen; Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Dawson; Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back, Richard Hill; Ben Kay, Martin Johnson (capt); Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson, Trevor Woodman.
Replacements: Dorian West, Jason Leonard, Martin Corry, Lewis Moody, Kyran Bracken, Mike Tindall, Iain Balshaw.