Tindall: Canada provide perfect opener

World Cup winner Mike Tindall claims tomorrow’s Twickenham clash against Canada provides a “perfect start” to the international season for new-look England.

Victory over a seriously-depleted Canadian side is not an issue – the only question should be by how many points.

The fixture is effectively nothing more than a training game for infinitely tougher assignments against Tri-Nations champions South Africa and World Cup runners-up Australia later this month.

On paper, the Canadians have no chance.

And if England click into gear under new coach Andy Robinson’s critical eye, then it could be one of those depressing mis-matches, now all too familiar between the haves and have-nots of international rugby.

For the world champions, tomorrow’s probably low-key affair is about debutants like Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto and Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell, untried combinations such as the centre pairing of Tindall and Henry Paul, while not forgetting new captain Jason Robinson.

Perhaps most importantly of all though, it is about finally consigning England’s World Cup triumph to the history books.

England have suffered a huge collective World Cup hangover throughout 2004, losing five out of eight games, including a first Twickenham defeat since 1999 when Ireland triumphed on their way towards a Six Nations Triple Crown.

Many pundits are predicting further falls against South Africa and Australia, with England’s 2005 RBS 6 Nations opener away to Wales on February 5 also appearing to be a hazardous mission.

“We are concentrating on getting our game right,” said vice-captain Tindall. “Andy has naturally progressed in terms of taking over from Clive (Woodward). It’s like nothing has changed, really, except that Robbo has brought in a few little tweaks he thinks should be made.

“Canada play a very physical game, and they attack straight at you. It is the perfect start for us in terms of getting into our game.”

England have not played since their dismal summer tour which produced two crushing defeats against the All Blacks – 36-3 and 36-12 – before Australia walloped them 51-15 in Brisbane.

Andy Robinson, with coaching assistants Phil Larder, Joe Lydon and Dave Alred at his side, expects a confident beginning, as will a Twickenham audience likely to be around the 40,000 mark.

“Our priorities are to get some flow, rhythm and creativity into our game, and not to be afraid to try things,” said backs specialist Lydon.

“We know with that freedom comes an accountability, and this game represents a chance for the players to play that style on an international platform.”

That platform will be shared by Jake White’s Springboks tomorrow week, when much more – so much more – should be discovered about where England really stand in global terms.