Rugby: Patient Hape scores start

Shontayne Hape turned out for England against Australia last night. Photo / Getty Images

Shontayne Hape, the former Kiwi rugby league player and latest New Zealander to offer a solution to English rugby's most pressing positional problem, was described by one of his colleagues yesterday as a "different species".

This was a fairly startling development in a sport traditionally populated by human beings, although the speaker - Northampton fullback Ben Foden - may simply have meant that Hape is an unusual kind of inside centre, rather than an unfamiliar form of union-playing life.

Whatever else happened in last night's test match against Australia, Hape's form and ability to fill in for his injured fellow Kiwi, Riki Flutey, will be closely monitored.

There is another questions: will he move Olly Barkley's test career closer to extinction?

The two men play together at Bath, where Barkley is preferred and given Barkley's form towards the end of the Premiership campaign, he might have expected to start last night's match at the Subiaco Oval - not least because he has a big kicking game, as opposed to Hape's non-existent one.

He also understands rather more about the dynamics of a union contest than a man who spent his formative years playing rugby league and another four doing something similar in Bradford.

Barkley was disappointed at missing out on the date with the Wallabies, although it is equally clear that Martin Johnson and company have been desperate to pick Hape since he announced himself an ersatz Englishman - he would have played against Wales in February but for illness.

Even though he has few of the bewitching qualities that distinguish the brilliant Wallaby footballers who will loom large in his eyeline, including the recalled fullback James O'Connor, Hape's size and power are prized most by this red-rose management.

He has a decent step, a dangerous offload and tackles like an All Black, as befits someone born in Auckland.

"I've been patient and I've bided my time," he said yesterday after being chosen ahead of the man he cannot find a way past at club level.

"Playing for England is right up there as an honour, and this is a great place to finally get to do it."

Might the balmy temperatures help him find a kicking game? Hape shrugged. "My kicking is there if I need it but I'm more likely to run."

Johnson flatly denied that Hape's appearance alongside the heavy-tackling Mike Tindall was a defensive option.

"It would be absolutely wrong to assume that."

He was equally unapologetic on the Jonny Wilkinson front. Most Australians assumed the celebrated outside-half would mark his first match in their country since the 2003 World Cup final by starting it, but as every Englishman who saw Toby Flood's fine performance in the last Six Nations game against France has known for weeks, he will start on the bench.

"Jonny is the ultimate team man and he'll give 100 per cent whatever we ask him to do, so it was an easy conversation," Johnson told a puzzled local journalist. "That 2003 game was a long time ago. You probably need to get over it a little bit."

The other key component of this weekend's international clashes is how the Northern Hemisphere sides cope with the new rule interpretations. Ireland against the All Blacks, Wallabies against England and France against South Africa will provide much for analysts to ponder.

Certainly, last night's clash between South Africa and France, while it has been billed as the clash of the champions, are likely to be coloured by the new interpretations.

The French are tired after another long season but say they are up for the task - although some cynics suggest they might go down to a barrage of penalties.

Last night's match was their first under the new interpretations that have been in force during the entire southern hemisphere season, allowing the attacking side more leeway.

It is asking a lot of the French - or any of the northern hemisphere sides - to put a whole season's habits to one side and embark on a totally new approach after a few training sessions.

Both sides had major influences missing - the French forwards William Servat, Sebastien Chabal, Imanol Harinordoquy plus backs Yannick Jauzion and Mathieu Bastareaud.

The Boks are missing ace halfback Fourie du Preez, key forwards Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira and, in the backs, no JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn - but still were able to field a strong tight five last night.