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Yesterday

Selection meetings for the Springboks must be quite fun with Pieter de Villiers in charge. Seemingly a 'yes' man, the new coach has borrowed a trick or two from Paul Daniels' repetoire, naming Joe Van Niekerk at No. 8.

South Africa fans are sickened that Luke Watson is in ahead of Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski. Adrian Jacobs has done well in attack, but questions marks remain against the big boys in attack, so it will be interesting to watch him tussle with Ma'a Nonu, especially after going missing in the Super 14 semi-final against the Waratahs.

There are worrying reports coming out of Wellington than Jacobs and Watson are already teachers pets, being favoured for their unfashionable reputation rather than obvious world class abilities, which Francois Steyn has in abundance. He's still a baby and has a World Cup winners medal, so he is primed for the big stage.

CJ Van de Linde and Guthro Steenkamp will front up, but the lack of BJ Botha, whom the kiwis rate higher than any other bruiser will have Messrs Woodcock and Somerville frothing at the mouth.

96-Test veteran Percy Montgomery is the master of close encounters. 'Monty' kicked them to World Cup glory after all, so Conrad Janties is a surprise, if purely for his limited defensive capabilities.

Pieter de Villiers. If you weren't already aware, the pressure of being the first black South African coach has just intensified. There hasn't been this much anticipation to a Test series since Martin Johnson's England turned up to New Zealand in 2003.

The Boks would've happily sold a toe for Jake White, so if the changes prompt a horror start and they find themselves 20-0 down after 15 minutes, then we'll see how valued the new coaches ideas are.

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.

July 2

The most team points in a Tri-Nations series by a nation. New Zealand accomplished this is the 2006 competition. The All-Blacks won five out of six, losing their last game against South Africa by a slender point despite scoring 20 points. Needless to say they bagged the trophy...

32 v Australia

35 v South Africa

13 in Australia

34 v Australia

45 in South Africa

20 in South Africa

Dispassionate objectivity has been ditched for this one. The level of talent is there for all to see. Martin Johnson has gone into the unknown, not only as a coach, a selector, but also as a former player, taking on a whole new responsibility not to mention umpteen new laws.

But while England have got to catch up quickly to bring them in line with the southern hemisphere sides who have already been exposed to the ELVs, at least now under the new agreement, the central control gives Johnson the best opportunity to grow England's garden of talent into a full bed of beauty.

Reading down the list of names in the Elite Player Squad, Leicester and Wasps share 17 of the 32. Biased - No, Johnno is only used to winning characters and a champion work ethic and England's new Team Manager will aim to transcend a similar graveyard labour approach to training from that of Welford Road and Adams Park - The rest beware!

So for Messrs Tindall, Kay and Easter, it's back to the stables raking hay and trundling about on the tractors for the new technology has turned Johnson's hand into choosing up to date models who work more efficiently. i.e. Jordan Crane - the unsung hero of the Leicester Tigers back-row. He carried the 2CV Tigers engine all season.

All this Harlequins vendetta is a load of nonsense. David Strettle might be slightly unlucky, but his skills are visibly better suited at outside centre rather than on the wing.

The law might state innocent until proven guilty, but the issue surrounding three of the so-called Auckland four is not legal, but the lingering dark cloud over English rugby, so for the new sunset, there can't be any negativity.

Sale and Gloucester fans should singing and dancing. Charlie Hodgson, Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo's omissions means both clubs have a greater chance of sustaining their title challenge.

The reality check has it that all three are in the top bracket of those who can't quite cut it in the international arena. It's not a criminal offence - it's just a fact - international rugby commands more than passing, kicking and tackling.

Danny Cipriani will surely be on Johnson's New Year honours list providing his rehabilitation goes accordingly. The prospect of Cipriani and Riki Flutey converting their club form into an England shirt wets the appetite like a fillet steak straight off the grill and onto the hot-plate.

As the only recognised fly-half, Jonny Wilkinson will keep the number ten shirt warm until the Six Nations. Wilkinson's defensive qualities represents a calming reassurance that the midfield will have an anchor, some bite and won't just wave the white flag when a big, ugly centre comes into the line at pace.

Wilkinson's rivals include Shane Geraghty, a genius blessed with the talents of an early Paul Gascoigne character, minus the drinking of course. He could just be the natural creative spark that England need at inside centre. He undoubtedly had a little help from the potential incoming attack coach.

Toby Flood, Olly Barkley, Danny Hipkiss and Matt Tait the other names drafted into the midfield. Johnson and perhaps with a little word from Brian Smith, has shown a big emphasis on versatility with all of the above handy in more than one position.

Tom Varndell's predatory instincts compliment the industrious Paul Sackey as well as the intuitive Gloucester utility James-Simpson Daniel. The Leicester wing's two years of hard graft have finally paid off and his unrivalled speed and sharp eye for the try-line justifies his selection.

Selection of the team is the easy part. The coaching panel should be the priority. Creating a balance between the quality on the pitch and that off it is paramount to progression. Smith's release from London Irish should be followed by a new defensive minder.

It is crucial Johnson surrounds himself with the best and considering the RFU are shelling out near £150K per player to the clubs, they can certainly afford it.

England can now move on after five years of treading in thick muddy water. It's not a revolution, nor reason to start popping open the champagne, it's just a start, one with authority and a born-leader at the helm.

                                Let's go Sharking...