Record points scorer Jonny Wilkinson has been axed by World Cup winning team-mate Martin Johnson for England’s Six Nations clash against Grand Slam-chasers France on Saturday night (France 1/5 – Grand Slam Winner).

Johnson has made the decision to bring in Toby Flood to start at fly-half in one of six changes to the side which drew 15-15 with Scotland for the Paris showdown (7/2 No Winner – Grand Slam).

Wilkinson has only been dropped twice before by England in his 12-year international career – for Paul Grayson at the 1999 World Cup and for Danny Cipriani in the 2008 Six Nations – and suffered a blow to the head at Murrayfield last weekend.

A revamped back line will include Ben Foden, debutant winger Chris Ashton and Mike Tindall, while Simon Shaw starts at lock, Lewis Moody is named on the open-side flank and Joe Worsley is moved to the blind-side.

England team: B Foden (Northampton); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Brive), C Ashton (Northampton); T Flood (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), J Haskell (Stade Francais), B Youngs (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Toulon), M Tait (Sale Sharks).