The fight for the England No 10 shirt swung back firmly in favour yesterday of Jonny Wilkinson, who has been fast-tracked into Martin Johnson's elite player squad for next season at the expense of Danny Cipriani.

The writing had been on the wall for Cipriani, 21, who, despite featuring in each of England's four autumn internationals, fell down the pecking order in dramatic fashion and ended the season on the replacements' bench for the Saxons in last month's Churchill Cup final.

Despite Wilkinson's inactivity since suffering a dislocated knee last September, Johnson has had no qualms about reverting to the talismanic World Cup winner, who believes that his move to Toulon from Newcastle Falcons can extend his career by five years.

It may appear a leap of faith on Johnson's part, given that the 30-year-old has yet to play for his new club, but the England team manager has always maintained that a fit Wilkinson would be his first choice. Toby Flood is the other fly half included.

Wilkinson's arrival on the Côte d'Azur has created a stir, with thousands of fans watching pre-season training last week. The player looks in rude health again and is desperate to return to playing. One can only hope that his well-documented problems are finally behind him, but if his jinx strikes again, Cipriani could be back among the favoured 32, who include all ten of England's Lions from this summer's tour to South Africa.

Wilkinson is one of just two France-based players in either the elite or Saxons squads; Riki Flutey, who has joined Brive from London Wasps, being the other. There is no room for James Haskell - whose fall from grace has been remarkable - Andy Goode, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Tom Palmer or Steve Thompson.

Johnson insists that this is purely a selection rather than a contractual issue. “We will continue to monitor [their] form and fitness with a view to inviting them to training sessions as appropriate,” he said.

The squads are very much in Johnson's image. There are 14 players from Leicester, his former club, with promotions for Ben Kay, Louis Deacon, Jordan Crane and Dan Hipkiss, who toured Argentina last month, while Graham Rowntree and John Wells remain key members of his coaching staff. London Wasps have 12 representatives.

Matt Banahan and David Wilson, the Bath pair, who impressed Johnson in the match against the Barbarians and the two internationals against Argentina, are in the elite squad and can look forward to bright futures.

For those who have missed out, all might not be lost. This time last year Delon Armitage was nowhere to be seen, but in one season he has established himself firmly as England's leading full back. “There is strong competition for places within both of the squads, but there will be opportunities,” Johnson said.

Senior elite player squad

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), B Kay (Leicester), L Mears (Bath), T Payne (London Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (London Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), P Vickery (London Wasps), J White (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), J Worsley (London Wasps). Backs: D Armitage (London Irish), M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), O Morgan (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

Saxons

Forwards: R Blaze (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), A Corbisiero (London Irish), N Kennedy (London Irish), C Lawes (Northampton), M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), T Mercey (Saracens), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins), G Skivington (London Wasps), D Ward-Smith (London Wasps), R Webber (London Wasps), N Wood (Gloucester), B Woods (Leicester). Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), B Barritt (Saracens), D Cipriani (London Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), S Geraghty (Northampton), T Ojo (London Irish), S Myler (Northampton), P Sackey (London Wasps), J Simpson (London Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), S Vesty (Leicester), D Waldouck (London Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), M Young (Newcastle Falcons).