Teenager Tait gets chance to shine

Newcastle's teenage sensation Mathew Tait is set to make his England debut when the world champions launch their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign against Wales next week.

The precociously-talented Tait, who will be 19 the day after England's Millennium Stadium appointment with a confident Welsh side, looks poised to form an all-Newcastle midfield partnership with Jamie Noon.

If selected - England coach Andy Robinson will announce his team next Monday - Tait's elevation will represent one of the quickest from club to international arena in English rugby history.

Jonny Wilkinson has no doubt about Tait's ability, backing him to show his quality on the Test match stage.

Tait has caught the eye with a number of impressive Heineken Cup and Zurich Premiership performances this season, and he could be just the answer for an England side denied the services of injured World Cup centres Mike Tindall and Will Greenwood.

"He (Tait) is a hell of a player," said Wilkinson, who will miss at least the first half of England's Six Nations campaign through injury.

"It is great, because I also get to be part of his every-day development. I know him well, I train with him a lot and I get to talk to him quite a bit," added Wilkinson.

"He is a player who has immense self-confidence, but never arrogance.

"He is humble, he works hard, and yet he has the kind of explosive unknown quality when he can just go and do something quite incredible and leave the rest of his team staring in disbelief."

Tait is certain to benefit from having his club colleague Noon alongside him, if, as expected, that is the midfield partnership Robinson announces on Monday.

Matt Dawson is ready to complete his England rehabilitation by regaining the scrum-half spot from Andy Gomarsall, who is destined to miss out on a place in the 22, with Harry Ellis preferred as bench cover.

Robinson demoted Dawson earlier this season after the Wasps star could not commit himself to an England training session because of his filming schedule as a team captain on the BBC's Question of Sport.

It is understood Leicester lock Ben Kay will start in the second-row alongside Danny Grewcock, with a rejigged back-row featuring Gloucester's Andy Hazell at openside flanker.