MARTIN JOHNSON insisted his decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson does not signal the beginning of the end for England’s World Cup-winning outhalf.

Wilkinson has been axed for only the third time in his 12-year international career after Johnson decided to revamp his back division for Saturday’s clash with Grand Slam-chasing France at the Stade de France.

The heavy blow to the head Wilkinson suffered in last weekend’s 15-15 draw with Scotland has limited his preparation time but was not the reason for the change.

Wilkinson has been relegated to the bench, with Toby Flood to start at outhalf in Paris in one of four changes to England’s line-up behind the scrum.

Fullback Ben Foden, debutant winger Chris Ashton and veteran outside centre Mike Tindall all come into the team, at the expense of Delon Armitage, the injured Ugo Monye and Mathew Tait.

Johnson insisted Wilkinson remains central to England’s 2011 World Cup plans. “Jonny is still a world-class player. If I thought Jonny was on the decline, I wouldn’t have picked him for our last seven internationals,” said Johnson.

“We need at least two players in every position and we would have been happy to pick Toby in every game so far. Ahead of a World Cup, he needs to play in that position over the next 18 months as well as Jonny.”

Flood, who was Wilkinson’s understudy at Newcastle, played outhalf against France at Twickenham last year when England scored five tries in 42 minutes and routed Les Bleus 34-10. But on that occasion Wilkinson was not fit.

Up front, Lewis Moody has returned at openside flanker with Joe Worsley switching to blindside and James Haskell moving to the bench.

Simon Shaw has recovered from a shoulder injury which kept him out of the Scotland game and starts in the secondrow.

ENGLAND (v France): B Foden; M Cueto, M Tindall, C Ashton; T Flood, D Care; T Payne, D Hartley, D Cole, S Shaw, S Borthwick (capt), J Worsley, L Moody, N Easter. Replacements: S Thompson, D Wilson, L Deacon, J Haskell, B Youngs, J Wilkinson, M Tait.