ENGLAND'S World Cup campaign suffered a major blow this morning as Jonny Wilkinson's injury curse struck yet again.
The Newcastle Falcons fly-half, who will undergo a scan later today, has been ruled out of England's opening game against the United States on Saturday after twisting an ankle in training.
Bath's Olly Barkley will wear the number ten shirt, but Newcastle will have a player in Brian Ashton's starting line-up after Jamie Noon was selected in the centre.
Noon lines up in a team showing six changes from England's final tournament warm-up Test against France just over two weeks ago.
Ashton has found room for Lawrence Dallaglio, who starts in an all-Wasps back row alongside Joe Worsley and Tom Rees.
Worsley plays at blind side flanker, while Leicester's Martin Corry, who has recovered from a knee problem, has to be content with a place on the bench.
Noon and Mike Catt form the centre combination - with Newcastle youngster Mathew Tait named among the replacements - and fit-again Andrew Sheridan returns to the front row in place of Perry Freshwater.
England's poor lineout performance in Marseille has undoubtedly cost Bath skipper Steve Borthwick a World Cup start, with Leicester's Ben Kay preferred in the second row alongside Simon Shaw.
Despite England's dismal run of form since they won the World Cup in Australia four years ago, they will be expected to start their 2007 campaign with a points blitz against vastly inferior opponents.
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