WILL CARLING will win his 67th cap in a midfield partnership with the new England captain Phil de Glanville against Italy at Twickenham on November 23rd. Carling's selection - along with four new caps - means there is no place for his long-serving England partner Jeremy Guscott who has been in outstanding form with Bath this season.

Andy Gomarsall, Tim Stimpson, Adedayo Adebayo and Simon Shaw will all make their international debuts in a youthful line-up with four other uncapped players among the replacements.

In effect the England coach Jack Rowell has conducted a ruthless clear-out, dispensing, with half a dozen players including the Northampton half-backs' Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson, who helped England win the Five Nations Championship last season.

Carling, who resigned the captaincy last March - is the only survivor from a distinguished old guard that included Dean Richards, Rory Underwood, Victor Ubogu and Guscott, who has the consolation of a place on the bench.

"The ramifications of making Phil captain were very obvious but I kept an open mind and when I came to training I was pleasantly surprised," said Carling. "I'm delighted to be picked and it's flattering but I'm under no illusions about what it will take to stay there."

Rowell explained he had no objection to the 30-year-old Carling, the oldest player in the England team, playing at fly-half for Harlequins. "If that's how Will refreshes his mind and keeps himself stimulated so be it," said the coach.

The 21-year-old Gomarsall and Mike Catt, whose sole England appearance at out-half came against South Africa last year, form a new half-back pairing which will almost certainly be kept together for England's matches against the New Zealand. Barbarians (November 30th) and Argentina (December 14th).

The introduction of Adebayo and Stimpson reflects Rowell's evident desire for extra pace and scoring potential among the backs. Adebayo who has plundered 12 tries for Bath so far this campaign, replaces Underwood on the left wing.

Stimpson who is 23 also brings formidable attacking power to the side. the Newcastle full back will not be distracted either by goalkicking duties which have been given to Catt.

It remains to be seen whether the Bristol lock Shaw will bring greater athleticism to the pack than the man he replaces, Garath Archer, who did a good job for England in his two games last March.

There are certain to be question marks over the composition of the back row of Ben Clarke, Tim Rodber and Laurence Dallaglio which has a rather static appearance in this brave new era of fast flexible play in the loose.

A heavy responsibility rests on the open side flanker Dallaglio toe act as a ball handling decision maker capable of drawing England's midfield trio into a creative plan of action that gets points on the board.

No doubt Rowell was reluctant to place too many new cards on the table all at once, hence the omission of Chris Sheasby, the Wasps' number eight whose dynamic performances have earned him a place on the bench. Certainly the Italy game will go some way to showing whether Clarke's pace and competitiveness have suffered from the drop down to Richmond in League Two.

It is an open question how quickly the squad of 21 will sign the RFU contracts handed out to each player before yesterday's two-hour training session at Bisham Abbey.

At least the contracts should be legally watertight: the players were represented by their lawyers when they were drafted in conjunction with the RFU. It is understood that, with win bonuses England players can earn up to £108,000 a year each.

. Winger David Campese has been dropped by Australia for Saturday's Test match against Scotland - just a fortnight after collecting his 100th cap.

Campese makes way for Joe Roff in the one-off international at Murrayfield.

Scotland have dropped record cap Scott Hastings to the bench and have one new face in their side. Flanker Murray Wallace comes in at blindside flanker to fill the gap created by the absence of last season's skipper Rob Wainwright.

The surprise is the omission of Hastings, whose centre position goes to team captain Gregor Townsend, with London Scot Ron Eriksson at inside centre.