Robinson makes seven changes

England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team's shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham…

England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team's shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday.

Wing Ben Cohen, lock Danny Grewcock and flanker Lewis Moody - who boast more than 160 caps between them - are among those absent from Robinson's starting line-up.

Cohen is replaced by his fellow World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, with Wasps forward Tom Palmer taking over from Grewcock and Palmer's club colleague Joe Worsley recalled in the back row instead of Moody, who is relegated to bench duty.

Martin Corry retains the captaincy, but switches to number eight in a reshuffled back row which sees Pat Sanderson at openside flanker and Worsley wearing the number six jersey.

READ MORE

Elsewhere, Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan returns for Perry Freshwater, scrum-half Peter Richards is preferred to Shaun Perry, Newcastle centre Mathew Tait replaces 20-year-old Gloucester midfield prospect Anthony Allen and fit-again Sharks wing Mark Cueto starts instead of Paul Sackey.

Three poisitonal switches see Corry at eight instead of Sanderson, Worcester skipper Sanderson handed the number seven jersey above Moody and Jamie Noon moved to inside centre with Allen left out.

Wasps prop Phil Vickery, meanwhile, is among the replacements for potentially his first Test appearance since England lost to New Zealand at Twickenham a year ago.

Vickery has overcome major back problems to re-establish himself on the Guinness Premiership scene with his new club Wasps, and will add considerable experience as England strive to avoid a record eighth successive defeat.

Robinson, who effectively has two games against South Africa to save his career as England chief, had to carry out major surgery.

England's loss to the Pumas was their seventh in a row stretching back to February, while a 74,000 Twickenham crowd booed the world champions off after Argentina triumphed 25-18.

England:I Balshaw (Gloucester); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Newcastle), J Noon (Newcastle), J Lewsey (Wasps); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), P Richards (Gloucester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), P Sanderson (Worcester), M Corry (Leicester, capt). Replacements:L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), C Jones (Sale Sharks), L Moody (Leicester), S Perry (Bristol), A Goode (Leicester), T Flood (Newcastle).