WHAT'S really bothering Josh Lewsey, and the dwindling band of survivors from the debacle against Ireland two weeks ago is the manner of that resounding 43-13 defeat. It still hurts like mad.

"We didn't front up against the Irish and didn't do what we'd all talked about doing.

It's a simple game - keep the ball and go forward and we didn't do either of those things, individually or collectively. There was no platform to play off. If I knew why I'd be coaching rather than playing."

There's plenty more where that came from. Lewsey says there was a stern 'inquest' after the retreat from Dublin.

"Ireland were the better side and they outplayed us but we made them look like worldbeaters. We let a lot of people down that night. It wasn't the fault of the coaches, or lack of preparation, or the emotion of the occasion. We were there to do a job and we didn't do it. We didn't take them on."

Brian Ashton, before selecting a new crew to take on France at Twickenham today including yet another soft shoe shuffle for Lewsey who moves from wing to full back, delivered a few home truths.

Describing England as a second division outfit, he said: "I felt the players who performed against Scotland and Italy deserved an opportunity in Dublin but as a group they weren't up to the task. It was unacceptable."

The head coach hasn't accepted it, making 11 changes which has confused the plans of the Grand Slam-chasing French, while leaving Red Rose followers in a state of shock. "This is my fourth game in charge, " Ashton said. "Some of my predecessors took four years to get it right."

England haven't got four years, they've got six months to the World Cup.

Ashton pointed out that against Ireland his team were incapable of putting together any phases of play apart from once, and that was when they scored their try. "The statistics were frightening, " Lewsey said. "It proved to me that we were annihilated in the tackle area."

Only Martin Corry, who has been switched to lock, Joe Worsley and George Chuter survive from the pack.

Ashton has already shown he is nothing if not a gambler and on a scale that would make JP McManus look like a piggy bank raider. Phil Vickery, the captain, Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell are crocked and in at number 12, just as he thought he was consigned to the Twickenham museum, comes Mike Catt who, in feline years, would be about 250. Not only that but Ashton has given him the captaincy and a brief to shepherd young Toby Flood.

"If there is one player in the country who understands how I want us to develop our game it's Mike. I need a leader who has lots of experience and is on the same wavelength as myself, " the 60 year old Ashton said. "I'm putting my money on him to deliver a particular style."

Catt, he added, was a great communicator, omitting to mention that in Australia last summer the 35-year-old was so out of puff he could barely talk. "The circumstances were entirely different, " Ashton said.

Lewsey is edging towards 50 caps but has stalled on 21 tries. He's hardly had a pass. He was so bored against Italy he almost joined in the crowd's Mexican wave. By reverting once again to number 15 - his debut was the Tour of Hell in 1998 when he played at centre and then stand-off against New Zealand - he should see a lot more of the ball today.

"This is a pivotal game for us because we're up against a genuine world class team, " Lewsey said.

"We have to regain that intrinsic confidence or look around for more reasons why things are not working. I enjoy getting my hands on the ball and it would be better if I was allowed to play in a position regularly. Full-back is fine but it depends how the team is going to play. It's what the front five do that makes the difference between winning and losing. The nuts and bolts have to be in place.

"If we can get some decent ball, mix the aesthetic with the pragmatic and get France on the back foot we can surprise everybody and be right back in the competition. It's like flicking a switch. The French have to build momentum before they start playing. They have the best line speed in world rugby and a very aggressive defence but that should give us chances inside or out. We've got to give the crowd something to shout about. We've had enough heartache."

This is Lewsey on the Catt flap: "Is he too old? What am I supposed to say about that? Compared to Raphael Ibanez (a fellow Wasp and France's hooker) he's young.

When I went to Bath as a teenager Catty even then was their playmaker. He's Brian Ashton's prot�g� and it seemed only a matter of time before he became captain.

He's got skills, brains, is a great distributor and has become more and more influential. Now he's at number 12 he's the eyes and ears of the number 10 and that's just what a stand-off needs."

And on Andy Farrell, whom Catt has replaced at inside centre: "The criticism levelled at him is totally unjustified.

Against Ireland it was very difficult because they had more people on their feet than us. You have to look at what's around him. We were going backwards. He'll be around for a few seasons yet. You haven't seen the best of him."

Have we seen the best of Josh Lewsey?

"I hope not. I massively care about what I do. I'm fitter than ever and what motivates me is to play as well as possible, whether for Wasps or England. It's been enormously frustrating."