England captain to win 51st cap (From Watford Observer)

England captain to win 51st cap

12:40pm Wednesday 4th November 2009 in

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England captain Steve Borthwick will lead a mix of youth and experience in the opening autumn Test against Australia on Saturday.

The Saracens skipper, who will win his 51st cap, will be joined in the second row by Leicester’s Louis Deacon for the Investec Challenge international at Twickenham, which starts at 2.30pm.

A mass of injuries have forced England manager Martin Johnson’s hand to a large extent, with hooker Steve Thompson returning to make his first international appearance since 2006. Fly half Jonny Wilkinson is also back in the side for the first time in 18 months.

England team to face Australia: Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers), Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Danny Care (Harlequins); Tim Payne (London Wasps), Steve Thompson (CA Brive), Dave Wilson (Bath Rugby), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers). Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Stade Francais), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Andy Goode (CA Brive), Ayoola Erinle (Biarritz Olympique).