Autumn Internationals Rugby history maker Jason Robinson last night settled into life as England captain - and admitted he had no hesitation in accepting the post.

Robinson's "fantastic job" in leading Sale Sharks to the English Premiership summit was also revealed as a major reason behind his appointment for England's autumn Test series opener against Canada at Twickenham on Saturday.

He becomes the first rugby league international to skipper England in the rival 15-a-side code.

The former Wigan and Great Britain star, who takes over from an injured Jonny Wilkinson, could remain in charge when Andy Robinson's new-look England face far tougher appointments against Tri-Nations champions South Africa and World Cup runners-up Australia later this month.

Wilkinson, who was named as England captain last month, is battling to recover from an upper-arm problem, and looks like losing a race against time with the Springboks and Wallabies looming large.

"There have been many highlights in my rugby career, and being England captain is certainly one of them," said 30-year-old Robinson, who leads a team containing one new cap, his Sharks colleague Mark Cueto.

"It is not something I have deliberately sought with England or Sale, but I am enjoying being captain at my club and I am understandably excited at the prospect of being England captain at Twickenham on Saturday."

"Jason is an outstanding member of the England team, who has led by example for the three years he has been playing international rugby union," said Andy Robinson.

There are nine changes on the team, including Josh Lewsey's positional switch from full back to left wing, following England's last game, a 51-15 defeat against Australia in Brisbane just over four months ago.

But only four players - Robinson, Lewsey, Mike Tindall and hooker Steve Thompson - feature from England's World Cup final starting XV which beat Australia 20-17 almost a year ago.

Three World Cup winners though, are among the replacements - Northampton wing Ben Cohen, Harlequins centre Will Greenwood and Leicester lock Ben Kay. Between them, they have 128 caps.

Andy Gomarsall, despite suffering a back spasm in the last few days, has been selected to start at scrumhalf, with Newcastle's uncapped Hall Charlton providing bench cover.

Charlton will be joined among the replacements by fellow international rookies, Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan and Gloucester openside flanker Andy Hazell.

Elsewhere, Gloucester's in-form centre Henry Paul, a former rugby league team-mate of Robinson's, makes his first England start after three substitute appearances. And Sale outhalf Charlie Hodgson is the predictable alternative to Wilkinson.

In the pack, experienced Leicester prop Graham Rowntree is recalled and Bath lock Danny Grewcock wins his 50th cap, the 19th England player to achieve such a feat.

Leicester flanker Lewis Moody also returns, starting a Test match for the first time since the World Cup quarter-final against Wales.

Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Matt Williams has drafted six English-based players back into his squad for the second autumn Test against Japan on Saturday.

Newcastle Falcons' Stuart Grimes returns to the squad along with fellow forwards Gavin Kerr of Leeds Tykes, London Irish's Robbie Russell and Jason White of Sale Sharks.

Among the backs, Worcester's Ben Hinshelwood and Gordon Ross of Leeds both return for the game at McDiarmid Park.

ENGLAND (v Canada): J Robinson (capt); M Cueto, M Tindall, H Paul, J Lewsey; C Hodgson, A Gomarsall; G Rowntree, S Thompson, J White, D Grewcock, S Borthwick, J Worsley, L Moody, M Corry. Replacements: A Titterrell, A Sheridan, B Kay, A Hazell, H Charlton, W Greenwood, B Cohen

SCOTLAND SQUAD: M Blair (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (The Borders), A Henderson (Glasgow), B Hinshelwood (Worcester), S Lamont (Glasgow), G Morrison (Glasgow), D Parks (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds Tykes), H Southwell (Edinburgh) G Bulloch (Glasgow, captain), S Grimes (Newcastle Falcons), N Hines (Edinburgh), A Hogg (Edinburgh), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), G Kerr (Leeds Tykes), D Macfadyen (Glasgow), S MacLeod (The Borders), J Petrie (Glasgow), R Russell (London Irish), C Smith (Edinburgh), J White (Sale Sharks).