PARIS (Reuters) ¿ Johnny Wilkinson's injury jinx struck again on Tuesday when a twisted ankle ruled him out of England's opening World Cup match against the United States on Saturday.

Wilkinson had initially been included in the starting line-up for the Pool A match in Lens but will now be replaced by Olly Barkley.

"Johnny twisted his ankle in a non-contact session this morning in training. He's going for a scan this afternoon to establish the seriousness of the problem and I won't know any more until he's had his scan and 24 hours have passed by," coach Brian Ashton told a news conference.

Wilkinson, who kicked the extra time drop goal that won the World Cup four years ago, has endured a nightmare with injuries since, representing his country just seven times.

Neck, arm, knee and ankle problems have dogged him throughout, although he travelled to France on the back of his longest run of uninterrupted game time since the last tournament.

"As ever, he's philosophical," said Ashton. "We picked a XV we think will do a job against America and he was in it. He's not now so we'll move on."

Ashton had said previously that he would select his strongest side for the opening game, with the bigger test of South Africa to come a week later. Yesterday, however, sounding subdued, he conceded only that it was the "strongest side to play America".

Lawrence Dallaglio, who played every minute of the 2003 campaign and is now back after retiring from the international game, starts at number eight alongside Joe Worsley and open side Tom Rees.

Josh Lewsey, another veteran of 2003, wins his 50th cap on the right wing, with Jason Robinson on the left and Mark Cueto at fullback.

Jamie Noon and Mike Catt are the two centres, with Andy Farrell on the bench.

"It's important that this side hits the ground running, then we'll assess what's required for the following week," said Ashton.

¿ With the first game of the rugby World Cup kicking off on Friday, tournament organisers are embroiled in a media row that threatens to seriously restrict written and photographic coverage of the six-week event.

Leading international news agencies Reuters, Agence France Presse (AFP) and Associated Press, together with a world coalition of newspaper groups, are still trying to reach an agreement with the International Rugby Board (IRB) over the terms and conditions of media coverage.

The media coalition says the IRB has gone back on an agreement reached last month in Dublin on contentious issues which had included an IRB insistence on free entitlement to use all photos taken by the media at the World Cup.

The groups say the IRB appeared to have conceded on this issue but that others remain, including the internet use of pictures and use of non-match material, such as press conferences, gathered by non-rights holding TV cameras.

Both sides have been in discussion in the weeks leading into the tournament but, with agreement yet to be reached, Reuters issued a statement yesterday outlining its position.

"Reuters is ready and poised to cover the 2007 rugby World Cup. However, Reuters remains in discussion with the IRB on key licensing and accreditation issues that are yet to be resolved," the statement by Monique Villa, Managing Director Media said.

"Reuters, along with many other leading news organisations, are still waiting for formal clarification on matters agreed with the IRB in August.