Only 24 days before England's opening autumn international against Australia, a posse of selectors heads across the Channel today. After Martin Johnson monitored the rising talents of Courtney Lawes and Shane Geraghty at the weekend, the England manager's attack and defence coaches, Brian Smith and Mike Ford, are expected in Toulon on Thursday night to run the rule over the more experienced duo of Jonny Wilkinson and the England captain, Steve Borthwick.
Two weeks after the incident that earned Olivier Azam the 12-week ban that was confirmed today, Borthwick's eye has healed enough for him to lead Saracens in what should be one of the matches of the European Challenge Cup. Wilkinson, in what he says is his best run of matches since the 2003 World Cup, returns to the Toulon side after a week's rest but still second in the Top 14's chart of kickers.
Since his move from Newcastle in the summer Wilkinson's kicking has made a considerable impact in all four of Toulon's league wins. Tonight is his first match against English opposition with his new team. "Reading the reports, he is meant to be in fantastic form and fantastic shape – which, as an England player and an England supporter, I am very happy about," Borthwick said today.
The run of injury-free performances since Wilkinson dislocated his knee playing for Newcastle a year ago has also done wonders for his confidence. "It is years since I have had any continuity in my rugby, but since my season has started here in Toulon I have finally been able to put together a run of games."
He seems certain to start the autumn internationals after returning to England's elite squad – at the expense of Danny Cipriani – as one of only two No10s. Toby Flood, the other fly-half, is yet to play for Leicester and an England midfield pairing of Geraghty and Wilkinson would appear to be the likeliest.
Last week, without Wilkinson, Toulon opened their European programme with a 33–17 win at Castres and tomorrow night their coach, Philippe Saint-André, also brings back the captain, Joe van Niekerk, the former French international scrum-half, Pierre Mignoni, and the former Sale and France hooker Sébastien Bruno as the club tries to cash in on the experience their players have of life in the Guinness Premiership.
"We have the opportunity to count on players who know about English rugby, like Jonny, Juan Fernández Lobbe, Tonga Lea'aetoa and myself, so we hope this will prove useful against what we know will be really tough opponents," said Bruno, another of those to move in the summer.
According to Bruno, Toulon have decided to buck the French trend in the European Challenge Cup by going for both European and domestic honours.
"The English clubs play the Challenge Cup to access the Heineken Cup and it makes no difference to them, they go into the games as determined as you can be for any fixtures. At Toulon this year we want to be competitive on both fronts, domestic and Europe, and while the club was struggling last year after only just being promoted, there is a wealth of players to choose from to make us real contenders."
There might come a time when Saint-André has to chose between competitions. A fortnight ago, in the Top 14, Castres edged out Toulon 21-19 when Wilkinson was just wide with a 50-metre penalty in the last minute.
Tonight, meanwhile, Smith and Ford will also get the chance to consider the form of Tom May, now playing at centre for Toulon.
