IT'S SAME OLD STORY FOR JONNO

MARTIN JOHNSON will not ditch Dad's Army in the 2011 World Cup build-up.

For he is ready to gamble by keeping faith with his golden oldies.

The England manager said: "Of course, we want to be the best we can at the World Cup. However, I also want to win every game we play, starting with Australia on November 7.

"That means picking the best players, those who are going to get the job done. I look at it like this, if we win games, we will improve our levels of confidence. That's important for any side. It is easier to start bringing in younger players when you are winning. Yes, we know how old certain players are and we know who will and who will not be around come 2011.

"However, we mustn't forget experienced players have an important role to play. We've a tough autumn series coming up and as a coach I want to win those games. We have players who have been there and done it over the past 10 years. They are crucial to the development of this squad."

Johnson brought together his troops at Twickenham last week for a low intensity training camp that included almost 50 players from the Guinness Premiership and French Top 14.

But in sticking with veterans Julian White, 36, Simon Shaw, 35, Ben Kay, 33, Phil Vickery, 33, Joe Worsley, 32, and Jonny Wilkinson, 30, Johnson risks making the same mistakes as former England coach Sir Clive Woodward, who refused to ditch his veterans after their 2003 triumph.

However, there were plenty of new faces - including Courtney Lawes, Alex Corbisiero and Richard Blaze.

Johnson added: "Young players need a benchmark to work their way into the team. What better marker than people like Simon Shaw."

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