Stimpson is keen to kick

Tim Stimpson is ready to challenge for the England goal-kicking job after starring in the role for Newcastle this season. Stimpson has emerged as a front-runner to take on the vital duty when England coach Clive Woodward nominates his first-choice kicker for the clash with Australia at Twickenham on November 15th.

Full-back Stimpson has flourished this year under the guidance of Newcastle player-manager Rob Andrew - England's record kicker - and can boast an 80 per cent success rate.

He scored 111 points in six games on last summer's Lions tour of South Africa - and kicked for England for the first time in the Test against Australia in Sydney in July. Australia won that match 25-6 with Stimpson kicking his only penalty chance.

"I only had 10 days between that game and starting pre-season training at Newcastle so I never lost the thread," said the 24-year-old.

"I have been putting in three or four kicking sessions a week knowing that I had the chance to do the job for Newcastle.

"Rob Andrew had seen me kicking under pressure for the Lions and although he is still an excellent kicker he has given me a chance and I intend to show him that his judgement is correct.

"Basically I put my head down and kick the ball but there are all sorts of keys to focus on in my routine and I never forget them."

In England's latest squad session at Bisham Abbey yesterday Stimpson renewed acquaintance with kicking coach Dave Alred in their first meeting since the summer.

Alred, who worked with the Lions, was brought in by Woodward as part of his specialist back-up. Stimpson said: "I just picked up with Dave where we left off in the summer.

"But even when he was not around I felt his presence. His words were in my head as I went through my kicking drills.

"Like all of the Lions I had a fantastic couple of months in the summer, playing with the best players and with some of the best coaches.

"Now I expect even more of myself and I always have to be focused. England have an opportunity to move on this season. There is great balance in the side, a great sense of team morale.

"I am my own harshest critic and I need to develop and keep working hard and picking up things from senior players like Jeremy Guscott."

Woodward promised his squad that the top 36 players will not be short of activity during the four Test programme starting against Australia on November 15th.

Woodward will use matches in between the Tests to ensure that his large squad have targets during the most intense period England have faced since the 1995 World cup.

"This is a great opportunity to test our top players," he said. " I do not want guys sitting on the bench for a whole month. We intend to have a good look at all of them."

After the Australia match, England take on New Zealand at Old Trafford on November 22nd, South Africa at Twickenham on November 29th and then face New Zealand, again at Twickenham, on December 6th. In between those clashes they will put out three teams to play the Kiwis.

Woodward assessed the challenge against the southern hemisphere giants: He said: "I would much rather be playing these teams, I am hugely excited to go up against the best in the world. "There is not one of our players who would not give his right arm to be picked for that first game.