Johnno keeps top job open

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.

Moody, 33, returns to lead England in their warm-up against Wales after missing the RBS 6 Nations title-winning campaign with a knee ligament injury.

After the tournament, Johnson confirmed Moody was the man he wanted to lead England into the World Cup, fitness permitting, but there was a clear change in tone yesterday.

Tom Wood and James Haskell excelled in Moody’s absence during the Six Nations, adding to England’s stiff back-row competition, while Mike Tindall led the team to four victories.

Johnson yesterday warned Moody that nothing is set in stone.

Moody’s leadership credentials were endorsed earlier this week by Tindall, who revealed the Bath flanker “is viewed in my eyes and everyone’s as the skipper”.

But England’s back-row competition is arguably stronger now than at any time since the World Cup-winning year in 2003 with Haskell, Wood, Chris Robshaw, Hendre Fourie and Nick Easter all competing for places.

Having played just three and a half games for Bath since being injured the veteran international is itching for a taste of the action again.

Moody will captain a changed but strong England team that features Riki Flutey, Delon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson in the starting line-up for the first time since the 2010 Six Nations.

Matt Stevens has been absent from the squad for nearly three years after being banned for cocaine use while the powerhouse Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi, who received a ringing endorsement from Wilkinson earlier in the week, will make his debut.

“Everyone is ready to play. I have had to calm everyone — and myself — down this morning,” said Johnson, whose squad have been in camp for six of the last seven weeks.

“We are ready to go and we are excited about it. I want us to go and hit our straps, put in a good performance. Practising winning Test matches is what we are here to do.”

England will debut their new all-black kit at Twickenham. They will also wear it again against Argentina in the first match of the World Cup.