Josh Lewsey's career as England's full-back came to an unceremonious end yesterday when Brian Ashton dropped the World Cup winner from his 22-man squad to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and made it clear the 30-year-old Wasp's only route back into the starting XV would be as a specialist wing.

Instead Sale's Mark Cueto, who has played only eight first-class games at No15, will become England's fourth full-back in five Six Nations games, following in the ill-starred footsteps of Olly Morgan, Iain Balshaw and Lewsey, who has now been dropped from the last game of the Six Nations for the second year in a row. Apart from the anticipated inclusion of Mathew Tait at centre for the injured Mike Tindall, the team is otherwise unchanged from last Sunday's win over France.

Lewsey is not the sort of character to accept rejection idly and Ashton was at pains to stress that the former Sandhurst-trained officer has not entirely dropped off the selectorial radar after 47 caps. In a heart-to-heart chat this week, even so, the head coach informed Lewsey that he did not want a full-back with a wing's instincts and rated both Jason Robinson and Dave Strettle as better finishers.

"It was difficult because Josh has given great service to England and I'm sure he will again in the future," said Ashton, having dismissed the fledgling claims of youthful specialists such as Harlequins' Mike Brown and Bath's Nick Abendanon. "But talking with him last night he was playing the same way at No15 as he does on the wing, running the same lines and looking to exploit the same areas. That's not how I want a 15 to play.

"Internationally I see him as a winger. Josh has more athletic qualities as a rugby player but Mark Cueto has probably got more natural footballing skills. We're looking for a player who's comfortable as a footballer in the back three. He [Cueto] is also the only player in the squad now who's naturally left-footed. It makes a massive difference at international level to have that option, especially when you're defending."

Cueto's record of 13 tries in 18 England appearances is also a striking statistic and his form at full-back in Sale's last couple of Premiership games since recovering from injury has been impressive enough to merit a recall, particularly as Lewsey has not enjoyed the happiest of times in England's last two games. If Wales regard the Cumbrian as a potential weak link they are likely to be disappointed.

The same is true of Tait, regardless of his travails on his uncomfortable debut in the corresponding fixture two years ago. Ashton still believes the young man was unfairly singled out for criticism after England's 11-9 defeat and says there is no quicker player in England's squad. With Toby Flood (knee) and the captain Mike Catt (hamstring) both expected to train tomorrow, the England back line should lack neither pace nor a sense of adventure.

As for who would have played fly-half had Jonny Wilkinson been available, no one will ever know for certain. "Had Jonny been fit it would have been a selection dilemma I'd have had to face but, as he's not, it never crossed my mind," insisted Ashton, neatly sidestepping all inquiries on the subject after it emerged yesterday that the Newcastle man's right hamstring had not healed sufficiently.

"He needs to get himself fit first," said Ashton. "What we don't want him to do, playing the way he does and doing the amount of kicking he does, is to play with a dodgy hamstring. The prime job for him is to get himself fit and have a run of games between now and the end of the season."

Given that Wilkinson's entire career is in danger of becoming one big fitness test it is eminently sensible advice and, with the golden glow of hindsight, it was a mistake to risk him against Ireland. He will now have to sit and watch Flood and Shane Geraghty continue their international apprenticeship in a fixture which looks certain to test their composure.

"Wales are going to have the bit between their teeth," predicted Ashton, who has drafted in the Wasps back-row James Haskell as cover for the No8 Nick Easter, who has a neck strain. "I don't think it's going to be an occasion for the faint-hearted."

Wales v England

Millennium Stadium Saturday, 5.30pm Referee A Rolland (Ireland)

15 Kevin Morgan Dragons

14 Mark Jones Scarlets

13 Tom Shanklin Blues

12 James Hook Ospreys

11 Shane Williams Ospreys

10 Stephen Jones Scrlts, capt

9 Dwayne Peel Scarlets

1 Gethin Jenkins Blues

2 Matthew Rees Scarlets

3 Chris Horsman Worcester

4 Ian Gough Dragons

5 Alun Wyn Jones Ospreys

6 Alix Popham Scarlets

7 Martyn Williams Blues

8 Ryan Jones Ospreys

Replacements T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Duncan Jones, Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Blues), Gareth Thomas (Toulouse)

15 Mark Cueto Sale

14 David Strettle H'quins

13 Mathew Tait Newcastle

12 Mike Catt L Irish, capt

11 Jason Robinson Sale

10 Toby Flood Newcastle

9 Harry Ellis Leicester

1 Tim Payne Wasps

2 George Chuter Leicester

3 Julian White Leicester

4 Martin Corry Leicester

5 Tom Palmer Wasps

6 Joe Worsley Wasps

7 Tom Rees Wasps

8 Nick Easter Harlequins

Replacements Lee Mears (Bath), Stuart Turner (Sale), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Magnus Lund (Sale), Shaun Perry (Bristol), Shane Geraghty (L Irish), Jamie Noon (Newcastle)