KEY POINTS:
Some way north of Twickers tomorrow, English rugby eyes will be trained intently on the Newcastle Falcons club game.
Reason? Jonny Wilkinson - remember him? - is making, by some counts, his ninth comeback from injury since dropping the World Cup-winning goal for England in 2003.
He has
played rugby since - but not for England. Three years without a run in a white jersey is a monstrous interlude for such a talented player. Andy Robinson picked Wilkinson as his skipper for the start of his regime but the nominated leader broke down.
A fit Wilkinson would do a great deal for the psyche of an England team heading for a train-wreck against the All Blacks on Monday, according to all but the most optimistic red-rose supporters.
It would spell a sixth straight defeat and further trouble a year out from the 2007 World Cup.
Robinson has been forced by widespread injuries to weld a new backline to a trusted pack of hearty forwards. It is almost like Dad's Army and the Neville Nobodies.
The three All Black selectors have some knowledge of the new faces from coaching in Britain. They also have access to a serious amount of video footage, even on tyro 20-year-old Gloucester midfielder Anthony Allen.
Welding the team together is an appropriate term for new halfback Shaun Perry, whose occupation was just that until he joined the pro ranks a couple of years ago.
He is 28, a powerful, chunky man from his years of toil, and reputed to have a fast pass and powerful break.
For some reason best known to the team, England have named three vice-captains to leader Martin Corry and Perry, on debut, is one of that trio.
Allen has been hailed as a test talent-in-waiting. He has played age-group rugby for England at fullback and has been in the national sevens side. In his recent Heineken Cup debut, he compared favourably against Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll.
There has been talk of an Allen and Mathew Tait partnership as one to eventually rival Jeremy Guscott and Will Carling. With Mike Tindall, Stuart Abbott, Mike Catt and Olly Barclay out of the mix through injury, there was speculation that the youngsters would be used in tandem against the All Blacks - until Tait also cried off with a damaged leg.
Allen remains, with widespread calls for his continued use rather than the one test Robinson gave to Tait last year before sacking him.
The other new backline name is Paul Sackey, a 27-year-old wing with a strong junior football pedigree. He has great pace, a nifty sidestep and has exhausted all avenues to break into the senior side.
Sackey put his work as a car-sourcing businessman to one side this year as he hired Margot Wells, wife of former Olympic sprint champion Allan, to build his fitness. The outlay came good when he was called on to replace Mark Cueto. Warren Gatland coached Sackey at Wasps and Ian McGeechan tutored him - and described him as the most attacking wing in the domestic competition.
"He's very strong and makes great yardage," said McGeechan. "But his defensive game has improved. His work under the high ball is first-class."
In the England pack, there is acres of experience, except for hooker George Chuter, playing his first test at home. He is 30 though, a nuggety ball-carrier who comes with an aggressive background.
In his youth, he apparently had a habit of cracking a cricket bat on his skull before matches. When he got close to the England squad, he was twice cited for stamping and missed out. Six years ago, sick of the professional rugby treadmill, he gave up the game to tour the United States and Australia before he rediscovered his sporting passion. Leicester hired him, where he has built a useful lineout combo with lock Ben Kay.
He was one of many anonymous tourists on the Lions tour to New Zealand. About a year ago he barely made Leicester's second side, his confidence shot. The recovery has been gradual but enough to reunite him with Danny Grewcock in the second row. Dad's Army? Only Monday will tell - by which time there will also be an update on Jonny's latest renaissance.
