LEWIS MOODY will be on trial at Twickenham today (2.30pm) after England manager Martin Johnson insisted the Rugby World Cup captaincy is still up for grabs.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi will make his England debut in Saturday’s Investec international against Wales at Twickenham.

Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

WITH Alan Quinlan, one of the great modern characters and indeed one of the most influential players of the professional era, set to retire from rugby next month it is interesting to take stock of a new trend in the international game and one that is a cause for concern.

Jamie Noon has disappeared from Martin Johnson’s radar since moving to France, but he sees today’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Munster as his chance to lay down a marker. Alan Good talked to Brive’s Mr Dependable

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey admits Wasps are “hurting” ahead of tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against London rivals Harlequins.

THERE are plenty of lazy comparisons to draw between Brive and Munster — both former European champions keen to restore former glories, and both call small, rugby-mad provincial centres home — but what’s less obvious is that the French side found inspiration in Limerick not so long ago.

LEICESTER come into their Heineken Cup clash with Leinster on the back of a controversial 17-13 win over Harlequins.

Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes have been joined in England’s training squad ahead of Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Scotland by Harlequins pair Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw.

Hendre Fourie has replaced Joe Worsley in the England squad to play Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham after proving he has recovered from a calf strain.

Louis Deacon has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations as a replacement for banned Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.

LONDON IRISH boss Toby Booth struggled to mask his frustration after Bath’s late show at the Madejski Stadium consigned the Exiles to a ninth successive defeat.

WASPS director of rugby Tony Hanks was delighted with the pay-off for the hard work which ensured yesterday’s Heineken Cup clash with Newport Gwent Dragons went ahead.

Wasps 37 Newport Gwent Dragons 10

PROP Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training yesterday with a medial knee ligament strain.

Martin Johnson has confirmed that Jonny Wilkinson will not require shoulder surgery - but he remains doubtful for England's clash with New Zealand on November 6.

Jonny Wilkinson has handed England an injury scare on the first day of their pre-autumn international training camp.

Wasps 38 Glasgow 26

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

Martin Johnson insists England should enter their autumn series undaunted by the prospect of facing the Tri Nations teams on successive weekends.

FAR from a bright beginning for new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt as his side were given a lesson in organisation, intensity and clinical finishing by Shaun Edwards’ London-based boys in a friendly at Donnybrook last night.

Leinster 6 London Wasps 41, Donnybrook

Fit-again Sean O'Brien will captain Leinster against London Wasps in Friday's pre-season friendly in Donnybrook (KO: 7pm).

Bath centre Shontayne Hape will make his England Test debut in Saturday’s Cook Cup clash with Australia at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

MARTIN JOHNSON fired a warning to Australia that England will head Down Under next month with the strongest touring team since he lifted the Rugby World Cup on their shores in 2003.

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey has agreed a three-year deal to rejoin his former club Wasps.

JEAN de VILLIERS may be coming to the end of his Munster stint, but he won’t be replaced in the province’s back line by England’s Riki Flutey.

WITH four Top 14 sides in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, this is shaping up to be the ‘Year of the French’ and it’s a surge sourced by economics off the pitch as much as élan or elbow grease on it.

France 12 England 10

NICK DE LUCA left Riki Flutey and Mathew Tait dazed and confused last weekend, but the Scotland centre admits trying to do the same to Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy may be his biggest ever challenge.

Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped by England for only the third time in his 12-year international career.

Scotland 15 England 15

JONNY WILKINSON admits England’s defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his career. The England fly-half broke the world record for international points on that filthy afternoon in Edinburgh but there was nothing else for him to smile about.

New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu has praised Gareth Thomas for his “brave” decision to come out.

IRELAND rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll feels his collision with Paul O’Connell in the recent victory over England at Twickenham was caused by English centre Riki Flutey.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne admitted last night to “a degree of concern” that the decision to appeal the six-week suspension imposed on Jerry Flannery after an incident in the France-Ireland game could backfire on the former Heineken Cup champions.

Danny Care vowed to take out his frustrations on Scotland after England suffering an agonising 20-16 defeat to Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations.

WHEN Gordon D’Arcy eyes up his opposite number ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Six Nations clash between England and Ireland at Twickenham, he will see a man born and raised in New Zealand, shaped in England and polished in France.

Brian O’Driscoll believes England’s new-look centre partnership is beginning to thrive.

THE escalating Jonny Wilkinson debate spread across the Irish Sea yesterday and, like Martin Johnson, Ireland defence coach Les Kiss was effusive in his praise of the under-fire out-half.

RIKI FLUTEY has played down talk of a move to Munster, insisting he has not been contacted by anyone from the province and revealing he cannot move unless Brive, his current employers, agree to let him go.

MARTIN JOHNSON will keep faith with Jonny Wilkinson when he names his England team at noon today to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

ENGLAND and Lions centre Riki Flutey, pictured, is on the cusp of signing for Munster, according to media reports in France.

MARTIN JOHNSON is not the sort of man who indulges in mind-games, but yesterday he braced himself to face a wounded animal when Ireland head to Twickenham a week on Saturday.