Mathew Tait was recalled by England on Tuesday as manager Martin Johnson looked to sharpen the team’s attacking edge for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham.
Tait was one of six changes, four behind the scrum, made by 2003 World Cup winning captain Johnson behind the scrum to the team beaten 19-6 by New Zealand at Twickenham last time out in November.
Tait, selected at outside centre, will partner New Zealand-born Riki Flutey, fit after a shoulder injury, in midfield after Johnson dropped Ayoola Erinle and Danny Hipkiss from the team that played the All Blacks.
Delon Armitage, who was also sidelined in November by shoulder problems, returns at full-back after seeing off a challenge from the uncapped Ben Foden while Danny Care replaces Paul Hodgson at scrum-half.
Mark Cueto moves across from full-back to his more accustomed right wing berth with Matt Banahan, who played against New Zealand, dropped.
Up front fit again Nick Easter returns at No 8 in a revamped back-row where David Wilson starts in the front row in place of Duncan Bell.
Saturday’s match will see Tait, who’ll be celebrating his 24th birthday, make only his second England start since the 2007 World Cup final defeat by South Africa where his searing break almost led to a try.
Of his 32 caps, only 15 have come as a starting player with Tait having suffered for being known as a “utility back” and being regarded as too lightweight for Test rugby after being dumped on his back on debut as an 18-year-old by Wales centre Gavin Henson in 2005.
But he has thrived this season in midfield for Newcastle.
And with Johnson, who has overseen just six wins from his 14 Tests in charge, admitting he was “over-prescriptive” in his instructions in November, he will have a key role in livening up a ponderous attack that managed just one try in three during November Tests – defeats by Australia and New Zealand separated by a stuttering win over Argentina.
Tait will have inside him at outside-half his former Newcastle colleague Jonny Wilkinson, who was much criticised in November for failing to put England on the front foot.
Second row Steve Borthwick, despite all the brickbats that have come his way from a variety of former internationals, retains the captaincy and will pack down alongside Simon Shaw.
England team (15-1): Delon Armitage; Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye; Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Care; Nick Easter, Lewis Moody, James Haskell; Steve Borthwick (capt), Simon Shaw; David Wilson, Dylan Hartley, Tim Payne.
Replacements: Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Steffon Armitage, Paul Hodgson, Toby Flood, Ben Foden.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
'If you want to read 8 pages of absolute garbage take a look at the Times’ “round table debate”. Guscott gives the impression he hasn’t watched a premiership game all season (which is probably true) and just says things to be controversial, Dallaglio wants to pick 15 Wasps players and Stephen Jones contributes his usual insane clueless ramblings.' I recall prior to the Lions tour when Dallaglio stated that Payne and Vickery should be the starting Lions test props. Guscott is simply a lush, and Jones is a controversy seeking dinosaur. If harnessed, the combined smugness between the three could surely power half of England's energy requirements. 'The scrum on Sat will be very interesting, Wales have probably got the best front row in the 6 nations' I think Adam Jones is arguably the best 3 in the 6N, but Williams and Rees are no great shakes even at domestic level, and Jenkins is a 'reluctant scrummager'. Further, let's not forget the beanstalks pushing the Welsh front row. Alun Wyn Jones is an imposter at 4 (although he is a very fine 5), and Charteris makes Borthwick look a rugged competitor. Jones might ruin Payne, but overall I would expect the English tight five to make greater inroads at the ruck, and definitely in the air.
Pajovic
Guest
If you want to read 8 pages of absolute garbage take a look at the Times' "round table debate". Guscott gives the impression he hasn't watched a premiership game all season (which is probably true) and just says things to be controversial, Dallaglio wants to pick 15 Wasps players and Stephen Jones contributes his usual insane clueless ramblings. The scrum on Sat will be very interesting, Wales have probably got the best front row in the 6 nations but, like I said, surely Payne is going to be unbelievably pumped up after being slated every day in every single newspaper column for the last 2 weeks, then again, silk purses and sows ears. He is most certainly the latter.! At least if it is going tits up England have got two good scrummagers in Cole and Thompson on the bench. If a winger goes off I'm sure it will be Foden to full back and Armitage onto the wing.If Wilkinson and Flutey can operate somewhere close to their peak then England could be a real threat Good to see everyone's favourite fly-half back in the ireland starting line-up. . Just kidding, pity Sexton is out, would have been interesting to see what whould have happened. Gutted to see Paddy Wallace back in the side. I just can't understand his presence at 12, or as replacement fly-half. Appartently Humphries was somewhat petulant following his omission from the Ireland A first. 15. Hayes will be slaughtered, so I expect to see court come on sooner rather than later. Predictable that Trimble made the team considering his excellent exploits for Ulster, I like Earls, but Trimble is a little ahead of him in terms of development. He has softer hands too. Its a good 'clicking' game for Ireland. The won't lose, but there scrum will get a beasting. Hopefully they will be in better shape in the front 3 for the French. That game defines Irelands 6 Nations. its the one they need to win, above all others. Just like the England Wales games defines the Welsh English season. Its make or break time for everyone.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Bell's not in the squad. He was an emergency selection in the Autumn because England had about ten props injured. David Wilson, the young Bath prop, will play on the tight-head. He's highly rated but is unproven at international level (though he did okay against Robinson at Twickenham). Tim Payne, who is a classic journeyman, will play loosehead because Sheridan is injured. The front row is probably the weakest part of this England team. The team looks quite good, but I'd have preferred Flood at 10. He kicks longer than Wilkinson, isn't afraid to attack the gainline and, most of all, he's played with Flutey before. The midfield looks exciting but yet again England go into a major Test with untried key combinations.
johnno42
Guest
sorry to the guru's. as i said in my opening line, "first to admit i don’t know squat about English or NH rugby". So was it only two years ago that i remember tait from? sorry, its all cloudy and it seemed like ages ago. apologies for confusing you colin n. i'll try and be more lucid in future and not leave anything for the imagination.
Terry Kidd
Guest
In my humble opinion this is probably the best squad that Johnson could come up with. Whats with Duncan Bell? I haven't seen much of him play but he looks like an overweight beach ball .... images of Matt Dunning from a few years ago come to mind .... and he doesn't seem to do much on the park. Is he there for his scrumming? If so, he didn't make much difference against the Wallabies.
Colin N
Guest
"and is Johnson now turning to old-timers to get things moving. (Even though Tait’s only 24…)" That's what confused me.
Derm
Roar Guru
He means he hasn't seen Tait's name on a team sheet for a while with a regular spot. In other words, the 2007 last match he started in is AGES ago, (bar the one he played more recently) and is Johnson now turning to old-timers to get things moving. (Even though Tait's only 24...) I think that's what he means anyway.
Colin N
Guest
What do you mean?
johnno42
Guest
first to admit i don't know squat about English or NH rugby, but isn't Mathew Tait a name from a few years back??? (quite a few...). is this Johnsons plan to turn Englands results around?