Wilkinson back for Samoa showdown

LONDON, England -- Jonny Wilkinson will make his first appearance in the rugby union World Cup as reigning champions England bid to get their title defense back on track with a crucial Pool A game against Samoa in Nantes on Saturday.

Wilkinson, who has been plagued by injury since kicking the winning drop goal against Australia in the 2003 World Cup final, sprained his ankle in pre-tournament training and missed England's first two matches.

A 36-0 thrashing at the hands of South Africa after a lackluster victory over the USA have left England needing victory over Samoa and against Tonga on the following Friday to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Olly Barkley, who missed the South Africa game due to a hip problem, also returns to line up at inside center instead of the much-criticized Andy Farrell who drops to the bench.

As expected, England head coach Brian Ashton has made substantial changes following his team's record World Cup loss to South Africa.

Injured Jason Robinson, fly-half Mike Catt, scrum-half Shaun Perry and flanker Tom Rees are all left out, while Jamie Noon has returned home for further treatment on a tournament-ending knee injury.

Former captain Lawrence Dallaglio has also failed to force his way in, with Ashton retaining Harlequins number eight Nick Easter in the back row alongside skipper Martin Corry and Wasps' Joe Worsley.

Elsewhere in the pack, Leicester hooker George Chuter is preferred to Mark Regan for his World Cup debut.

In the backs, only wing Paul Sackey stays in his original starting position from the South Africa game.

Josh Lewsey is moved from wing to full-back instead of hamstring victim Robinson, with Mark Cueto featuring in the Number 14 shirt.

Barkley and Mathew Tait form a new center partnership, while Wilkinson replaces Catt and 2003 World Cup winner scrum-half Andy Gomarsall ousts Shaun Perry.

Meanwhile, Samoa full-back Gavin Williams will miss the game against England after fracturing a bone in their 15-19 loss to Tonga.

Williams has scored all of his side's World Cup points so far, scoring and converting a try in the 7-59 loss to South Africa and kicking five penalties against Tonga.

France coach Bernard Laporte has delayed naming his side for the crunch match against Ireland in Paris on Friday because of doubts over the fitness of captain Raphael Ibanez

The hooker took a heavy blow to the throat when he came on as a second half substitute in Sunday's 87-10 win over Namibia in Toulouse and he has since experienced some difficulty in breathing. E-mail to a friend