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LENS - Defending champions England head into their rugby World Cup opener against the United States on Saturday without Jonny Wilkinson and all eyes will be on his replacement, Olly Barkley.
England have had to get used to life without five eighth Wilkinson, whose drop-goal against Australia four years ago in extra-time sealed a dramatic victory in the final.
After that match in Sydney it was to be another 1169 days before Wilkinson played for England again after a variety of injuries to his his shoulders, biceps, knees and ankles.
Now it looks as if Wilkinson could also miss England's crunch Pool game against South Africa on September 14 in Paris after he suffered a ligament sprain in his ankle while training on Tuesday.
That is what makes Barkley's performance this weekend all the more important.
Any sign of struggle against the US, one of the tournament minnows, could damage morale and reinforce the impression England cannot win unless Wilkinson is in the side.
It would also place pressure on coach Brian Ashton who left out Toby Flood, Wilkinson's understudy at Newcastle and someone often tipped as the most likely long-term candidate to replace England's record points scorer.
Barkley made his test debut as a teenager against the US in San Francisco more than six years ago, but Saturday's encounter at the Stade Felix-Bollaert will be his World Cup debut.
"It's not an ideal way to be starting a game. I am sad to see Jonny injured," said Barkley.
"Fingers crossed for Jonny that he is fit for next week, but I am looking to play as well as I possibly can on Saturday to make sure I create a few headaches if he is fit.
"Training with Jonny over the past six weeks or so has been great for me and I think I have improved as a result."
Someone England will look to as an important link-man between their forwards and backs is openside flanker Tom Rees.
He lines up in an all Wasps backrow which will include 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio starting at No 8 in place of Nick Easter.
Meanwhile, former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell has been left out, meaning there is another chance for veteran Mike Catt to show what he can do in the centres alongside Jamie Noon.
Midfield has been a problem area for England since they won the World Cup but there has been talk of pairing the South Africa-born Catt alongside the more physical Farrell at some stage during this tournament.
Ashton, though, was giving little away: "We've picked a fifteen we think will do a job against the USA," he said.
The US will not lack for detailed knowledge of several England players but how much they can do with it is another question.
"Perhaps, in hindsight, one or two more games together against stiff opposition would have sharpened up our team to a level we have to attain very promptly in France," said US coach Peter Thorburn.
- AFP
