Peter Bills: England finally find courage to play stars of tomorrow

The sense of desperation over Martin Johnson's team to face France in Paris on the final weekend of the Six Nations underlines the mess in which English rugby finds itself.

A whole season has been wasted by England because they are no nearer finding the men they need to take them forward towards the World Cup next year.

Only in this final match of the campaign have England found the courage to start with two young players identified at the beginning as possible future stars - Northampton fullback Ben Foden and his club colleague, wing Chris Ashton.

Until now, they have failed to win a place due to England's poor selection decisions and conservative approach. Only now, after a torrent of criticism following the 15-15 draw with Scotland in Edinburgh, have Johnson and his fellow coaches acted.

It is a sad indictment of England's failings that it has taken them seven internationals to summon up the courage to be bold.

But England's team for the Stade de France, chosen with a damage-limitation exercise in mind, also reveals the poverty of options available in some positions.

To have to recall Mike Tindall, now 31, at outside centre speaks volumes for the lack of alternatives being groomed in the Premiership. Tindall played for England in their 2003 World Cup triumph but has since been battling a series of injuries, some very severe.

England's problems begin with their captain, Steve Borthwick, who surely cannot hang on to the job after this weekend's match.

A new leader, probably Wasps flanker Tom Rees, must be unearthed for the short close-season tour and then next season. Borthwick's presence denies England potentially their best second-row pairing this weekend; Simon Shaw, the veteran, and Courtney Laws.

It is only by trying a youngster such as Laws in a place like Paris that selectors really learn about his suitability and potential. But Laws cannot play because Borthwick gets in.

Sad as it is to say of such a decent, honourable man, the feeling in England rugby is that the Saracens man only wins another cap because he holds the captaincy - and I cannot believe Borthwick is happy with that.

England's selectorial process has been as poor as their game. It has taken them a season to work out that Jonny Wilkinson is no longer the player he was and does not cut the mustard any longer at test level.

Anyone who watched him playing for his French club Toulon in September and October, knew that - but not, apparently, England's selectors. Wilkinson has done for England what Toulon have asked him to do all season for them - stand back in the pocket, well out of the way of opposing flankers and halfbacks and kick for position and territory.

Oh, and kick copious numbers of penalty goals. That has been enough to give Toulon a successful season in the French Top 14 but it is nowhere near enough at international level. But then, England have been playing a brand of rugby from years gone by ...

As always, the acid test of how good any international side is, is to ask how many of its players would get into a World XV? In England's case, the answer is none, zilch.

The talent simply isn't there, but you have to say it has not been helped by some abject decisions made by the selectors.

Toby Flood should have started the season in the No10 jersey, not ended it. No one still knows whether he is the real answer but at least if he had been given seven games, not Wilkinson, who was plainly past his best, we would have learned something. Instead, England have wasted another season.

Up front, it is true that injuries and unavailability has hampered them. England's best front-row is Andrew Sheridan, Dylan Hartley and Matt Stevens, yet the two props have missed the whole season; through injury in Sheridan's case, and suspension in the case of Stevens.

In the back row, Rees would be first choice open-side flanker if he were fit and Tom Croft, of Leicester, would have been the No6, had he been around. But there are real concerns at lock where not even the admirable Simon Shaw can go on much longer.

Danny Care has made progress but Leicester's Ben Youngs is probably the technically better player for the long term. Why not, what have England got to lose?

They must start finding out about players, not keep opting for the most conservative way.

Only a crisis has given Foden and Ashton a place in the starting line-up, and for Johnson and his men to have kept picking Delon Armitage at full-back when he was clearly out of form, was ridiculous.

France should stroll to their Grand Slam against this muddle of an England side. The only chance of England limiting the damage is if the likes of Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody, Nick Easter, Toby Flood and Mike Tindall tackle themselves to a standstill. Presumably, that is why some of them have been included.

As ever with England, and especially with the World Cup next year, it is a short-term policy. The worry is their absence of long-term thinking and stability in the side so close to a World Cup.

Six Nations

* Wales v Italy
Cardiff 3.20am tomorrow

* Ireland v Scotland
Dublin 5.50am tomorrow

* France v England
Paris 8.30am tomorrow

* Peter Bills is a rugby writer for Independent News & Media in London