England's Starting XV for the 2011 Rugby World Cup

As England put out the latest inept, impotent and uninspiring performance I want to offer a challenge to Martin Johnson.

He was a fantastically efficient player who did all the jobs asked of him to the top level, but he must throw off the shackles and put out an England team which will show life and excite England fans.

So for the first match of the 2011 World Cup against Argentina on September 10 in Christchurch, this is the 15 I believe Johnson should put out:

1 – Matt Stevens
2 – Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 – Dan Cole
4 – Courtney Lawes
5 – Nick Kennedy
6 – Steffon Armitage
7 – Tom Croft
8 – James Haskell
9 – Danny Care
10 – Shane Geraghty
11 – Ugo Monye
12 – Riki Flutey
13 – Matt Tait
14 – Chris Ashton
15 – Ben Foden

The pack needs dynamism, power, pace, skill and agility to perform in the modern game. If Stevens continues at Saracens as he did before his ban, along with Hartley and Cole, England will have a front row which could equally double up as extra flankers – though they may lack at scrum time.

Kennedy and Lawes in the second row will provide a fantastic platform from the lineout, and the back row mixes powerful running, with commitment and passion.

At half backs I think we need to move on from 2003 and leave Wilkinson out. He hasn’t repeated the form he shows at Toulon, and so we should throw in Geraghty and give him his international chance at his normal position.

The centre partnership has not had a chance to demonstrate its full running potential because of England’s slow ball during the Six Nations. Given the chance they certainly have the chance to cause devastation.

Foden has shown brilliance at full back for Northampton, and during his limited England opportunities, while his club team mate Chris Ashton has an unbelievable try record and there is no reason why he can’t carry this over for England. Monye has been one of the only half-decent performers for England over the past 18-months.