BEN KAY is relishing the chance to take on World Champions Australia in Saturday's Investec Challenge Series international at Twickenham.
The Leicester lock, whose dramatic line-out steal from a New Zealand throw helped England beat the All Blacks 31-28, has been selected ahead of Bath's Danny Grewcock to start against the Wallabies.
Neil Back returns at open-side flanker, Richard Hill switches to No 8 instead of Lawrence Dallaglio, while Lewis Moody retains his place after a try-scoring display.
"I'm really delighted and I wasn't expecting it," said 26-year-old Kay. "Andy Robinson (coach) had said when they left me out of the New Zealand game that it had been a really close call. I was downhearted but he gave me the impression that I had a chance to get back in."
Speaking of his late line-out catch, Kay said: "I felt that we got close to the New Zealand ball on a few occasions when Danny was on and then I got my fingertips to it a few times but it didn't quite bobble down our side. So, going into that line-out, I just asked for a little bit of extra height from the lifters and they did a fantastic job."
Australia were beaten 18-9 by Dublin at a wet Lansdowne Road last Saturday but Kay added: "The Australians can play in a number of ways and our game will also change slightly depending on which opposition we are up against. We'll look at what they have to offer and the coaches will put together the best way of going about beating them."
Woodward said: "It was a big call between Back and Dallaglio before the New Zealand game. We are not rotating things here. Lawrence is very disappointed, but he is on the bench, and we will go from there. The team is picked on merit, and you have got to with what you feel is right and make the right calls."
15 Jason Robinson The Sharks
14 James Simpson-Daniel Gloucester
13 Will Greenwood NEC Harlequins
12 Mike Tindall Bath
11 Ben Cohen Northampton Saints
10 Jonny Wilkinson Newcastle Falcons
9 Matt Dawson Northampton Saints
1 Trevor Woodman Gloucester
2 Steve Thompson Northampton Saints
3 Phil Vickery Gloucester
4 Martin Johnson Leicester Tigers (CAPT)
5 Ben Kay Leicester Tigers
6 Lewis Moody Leicester Tigers
7 Neil Back Leicester Tigers
8 Richard Hill Saracens
REPLACEMENTS
16 Mark Regan Leeds Tykes
17 Jason Leonard NEC Harlequins
18 Danny Grewcock Bath
19 Lawrence Dallaglio London Wasps
20 Andy Gomarsall Gloucester
21 Austin Healey Leicester Tigers
22 Tim Stimpson Leicester Tigers
