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

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.