Article: Johnson goes for the spine

Three changes to the spine of the team -- at scrum-half, hooker and No 8 -- plus an enforced switch in the crucial position of tight- head prop?

Martin Johnson would hardly claim this to be ideal preparation for a Test match against a team as dangerous as Argentina, who pitch up at Twickenham this weekend.

As expected, the Paris-based James Haskell will fill the back- row hole created by the abrupt demotion of Jordan Crane and Duncan Bell replaces his injured Bath clubmate, David Wilson at prop. However, there were never any guarantees that Dylan Hartley and Paul Hodgson would get the nod ahead of Steve Thompson and Danny Care at Nos 2 and 9 respectively.

These are choices driven by the ...

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