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Ignacio Lobbe: 'Argentina fear Jonny Wilkinson and not Toby Flood'

Lobbe: 'Argentina fear Wilkinson, not Flood'
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Martin Johnson should start Jonny Wilkinson ahead of Toby Flood for the World Cup opener, according to former Argentina international Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe.

Former Argentina international Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe has revealed that the Pumas would prefer to see Toby Flood start at fly-half for England on Saturday ahead of Jonny Wilkinson.

England coach Martin Johnson has used both players during his side's warm-up matches for the World Cup, but Lobbe believes that Wilkinson should get the nod for the opener as 26-year-old Flood "has weaknesses".

"Argentina would love to see Flood in the side, and not Wilkinson," Fernández Lobbe told BBC Sport. "Wilkinson is amazing – he's one of the top three fly-halves in the world. If I was Martin Johnson, I would play Wilkinson, because Flood has weaknesses.

"Remember when we played England at Twickenham and beat them? That excellent pass interception? That was Toby Flood – thank you very much.

"He's a great player for Leicester, when his pack is going forwards, but the World Cup will bring a different pressure and it won't be as easy for him. We'll see how he copes, if he starts against Argentina. Wilkinson is a better player for England, he has the ability to win a game on his own."

Wilkinson, 32, has been awarded 83 caps for his country, while Flood has won 37.

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