Jonny Wilkinson vowed to continue to put his body on the line for England after making 20 tackles in last weekend's defeat to Australia.

At times it seemed as if Wilkinson was trying to plug the dam all on his own as the Wallabies launched wave after wave of attacks in the second half.

The 30-year-old has spent most of the last six years on the treatment table and his defensive performance against Australia raised immediate concerns about how long his fragile frame can take such punishment.

But England's defence coach Mike Ford has abandoned plans to try and protect Wilkinson from himself by directing the back row to make more tackles for him.

Wilkinson felt no after-effects from his defensive shift and he would have no qualms in pulling off 20 more tackles this Saturday if it means helping under-pressure England to victory over Argentina.

"You just do what you think needs to be done and whatever it takes to try and get the result," said Wilkinson.

"It is a tough one because at this level you are so intent on the next job that you are not really counting, you are not really aware of what you are up to.

"Those tackles had to be made but coming off the field after the game I wouldn't have said I made 20. I would have probably said about 12.

"Physically it is one of those where you get stuck in but your mind is racing to what happens next."

Ford considers Wilkinson to be England's best defender bar none, and that includes the frenetic flanker Lewis Moody who was the only other player to really impress last weekend.

It was just before the 2007 World Cup when Ford first spoke about devising a plan to limit Wilkinson's work in defence - but that has now been shelved.

"You have to let him be," said Ford.

"Jonny very rarely misses a tackle and he wins the collisions in them. He is probably the fittest guy on the field.

"Teams that try to target him and fatigue him so he can't have the same influence in attack are wrong because his fitness is world class.

"He can make 20 tackles and do what he does in attack. Everyone saw that on Saturday."

Wilkinson, who missed most of last season after dislocating his knee, has been revitalised by his summer move to Toulon and his longest run of games since 2004.

But it was still something of a relief for Wilkinson that he was able to come through his first Test match in 20 months without suffering any side-effects.

"It was a fast game, a tiring game and a physical game - but not to the extent where I came off feeling smashed by it," he said.

"It is pleasing to come through the game and be able to train all week and get on with it."

Wilkinson has been training with a side featuring key changes to the spine of the team with a new hooker, number eight and scrum-half.

The fly-half believes the introduction of Dylan Hartley, James Haskell and Paul Hodgson will make England a more dynamic force and help recapture the try-scoring edge they showed against France and Scotland at the end of last season.

"We are at a team that wants to play with the ball," said Wilkinson.

"We want to score tries. I think they will come. It is always exciting to have Haskell around and on the field. He is energetic and an impact player.

"Hodgey is very familiar with what we are doing and he has the experience of the kind of gameplan we want to play from his days under (England attack coach) Brian Smith.

"He will bring a good organisation edge as well as a bit of know-how."

Argentina are missing key playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi plus wingers Lucas Amorosini and Gonzalo Camacho.

But Wilkinson knows from first-hand experience with the Lions - from their 25-25 draw in Cardiff in 2005 - not to underestimate a changed Pumas side.

"Hernandez and Contepomi are world class players but you just don't do that with Argentina. Too many people have learned that lesson," said Wilkinson.

"England probably underestimated them at Twickenham in 2006. They were underestimated at the 2007 World Cup and they were underestimated in the 2005 Lions tour opener.

"That was supposedly their second team but when you get on the field you realise it was nothing of the sort. They bring in different playres with different strengths.

"You know the team they put out will be damn good."