David Hands is intrigued by England's new midfield pairing of Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hape in The Times.
" England’s choice for the first of two internationals against Australia, at Subiaco Oval on Saturday, will surprise few except those here who have assumed from the outset that Jonny Wilkinson would be playing fly half. Throughout the week, Australia’s midfield backs have been quizzed about their regard for Wilkinson who will take his place among England’s replacements, behind Toby Flood.
"It is almost as though seven years have not passed and Wilkinson is still the player whose dropped goal won England the 2003 World Cup. He would admit before anyone else that he is not the same person, never mind the same player, as that 24-year-old but he is also part of Martin Johnson’s ambition to have, in Flood, another player who can control both the game and the scoreboard in the way that Wilkinson can.
"Flood was promoted to that task against France in Paris in March and retains the jersey but four of those who started the last act of the RBS Six Nations Championship have gone: Dylan Hartley and Riki Flutey, absent from this tour because of injury, Louis Deacon, who has been given the summer off, and Joe Worsley, the London Wasps flanker who is here but loses his place to Tom Croft."
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