Jonny Wilkinson has received Martin Johnson's backing despite being dropped for the final Six Nations game of the campaign against France on Saturday.
The 30-year-old will miss the contest at Stade de France and will be replaced by Toby Flood, marking just his third axing during his illustrious international career.
It is widely thought the decision to oust the talismanic fly-half could spell the end of his England career, but Johnson has moved swiftly to quell these suggestions.
Johnson said: "Jonny is still a world-class player. If I thought Jonny was on the decline, I wouldn't have picked him for our last seven internationals.
"There's not many players in world rugby who could have dropped that goal against Ireland in the last ten minutes.
"I'm sure Jonny will be disappointed he's not starting but he's a team player. The guys on the bench will be playing in the last quarter and that's the most important quarter of the game.
"We need at least two players in every position and we would have been happy to pick Toby in every game so far."