England aiming to lay down a marker

Pool A/England v USA:  Jonny Wilkinson's continuing misfortune with injury has cast a pall over England's preparation ahead of their World Cup bow in Lens, not so much in respect of missing out on the match against the Americans but in the supposition the ankle-ligament damage could keep him out of the pool's pivotal encounter against South Africa next Friday.

The Newcastle Falcons pivot has endured a litany of problems that would have broken a less mentally resolute player since his winning drop goal decided the 2003 World Cup final in England's favour.

He has never adequately been replaced on the national team during his long sabbaticals of enforced inactivity.

Many were called but none could muster the authority, the quality and the quiet conviction of the previous incumbent.

Bath's Olly Barkley gets an opportunity to try the number-10 jersey for size today in the less pressurised environment of a clash with one of the pool's minnows.

It's not an easy remit because in England's warm-up matches, outside of thumping a second -string Welsh outfit, the back play of the world champions has appeared ponderous and devoid of a cutting edge.

Barkley is simply the latest stopgap for a troublesome position. Coach Brian Ashton has acknowledged as much in preferring the more subtle creativity of Mike Catt at inside centre, shelving temporarily the experiment of using the physique of the rugby league convert Andy Farrell in that role.

England will enjoy a surfeit of possession, provided by a gargantuan pack, but it is how they use it that will offer the first indication of their ability to defend the World Cup.

While the Americans may come close to matching them on the scales in terms of the packs, they lack the rugby nous and experience to pose more than the orthodox problems.

The physicality of the Americans is embodied best in their 300-pound number eight, Henry Bloomfield, but technically and tactically the USA languish some way behind their opponents.

Ashton paid the appropriate pre-match lip service to this contest when he said, "We have massive respect for any team who plays at the World Cup. We will treat them like we would South Africa or anyone."

Verbal respect is one thing but he won't want to see a scintilla of it from his team despite his rather low-key wish list.

"Number one is a win, number two a good performance and number three, no one injured," said Ashton.

Momentum is a prerequisite for any team with ambition. England must lay down a substantive marker today.

ENGLAND: M Cueto; J Lewsey, J Noon, M Catt , J Robinson; O Barkley, S Perry; A Sheridan, M Regan, P Vickery (capt); S Shaw, B Kay; J Worsley, T Rees, L Dallaglio. Replacements: G Chuter, M Stevens, M Corry, L Moody, P Richards, A Farrell, M Tait.

USA: C Wyles; S Sika, P Emerick, V Esikia, T Ngwenya; M Hercus (capt), C Erskine; M MacDonald, O Lentz, C Osentowski; L Gross, M Mangan; L Stanfill, T Clever, H Bloomfield. Replacements: B Burdette, M Moeakiola, A Parker, I Basauri, M Petri, V Malifa, Tuipulotu.

Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).