Mathew Tait was recalled by England yesterday 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 center, will partner 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.
County Durham-born Tait will have inside him at outside-half his former Newcastle colleague Jonny Wilkinson, who was much criticized in November for failing to put England on the front foot.
Second row Steve Borthwick retains the captaincy and will pack down alongside Simon Shaw. Of the team that played against Wales in the corresponding Twickenham fixtute two years ago there are only five survivors — Wilkinson, Shaw, Borthwick and flankers James Haskell and Lewis Moody.
Wales, who were due to announce their team last weekend, are now waiting on the outcome of full-back Lee Byrne’s appeal yesterday against a two-week ban for briefly appearing as an illegal 16th man during the Ospreys’ European Cup win over Leicester before revealing their line-up.
Meanwhile, Chris Paterson will play his 99th match for Scotland on Sunday after being recalled to the side for their Six Nations opener against France at Murrayfield.
Scotland’s most capped player is one of six changes to the starting lineup that played Argentina in November.
Glasgow center pairing Max Evans and Graeme Morrison, Gloucester prop Alasdair Dickinson and Glasgow flankers Kelly Brown and John Barclay are also in Andy Robinson’s side.
Uncapped Glasgow lock Richie Gray is on the bench.
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