British and Irish Lions

If Laporte is concerned about his England counterpart's attempts to give his side additional options by including Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson at centre for the Twickenham encounter, he is certainly not showing it.

"That's not a very important selection," said the 'The Kaiser', whose side effectively shackled playmaker Jonny Wilkinson as France won 20-15 at the Stade de France in the penultimate match of last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

"What is important is what France are going to do on the pitch and what the intentions of England will be against us.

"We know that Hodgson is a fly-half so probably he has a very good kicking game.

"Maybe on one side of the pitch Wilkinson will play centre with Hodgson at fly-half and at the other side it will be the other way round. But in the end, it is nothing. It's one number 10 and one centre."

British & Irish Lions tour manager Andy Irvine has backed Warren Gatland's call to protect his Test side for Saturday by picking a makeshift side to face the Brumbies in Canberra tonight.

Digby Ioane has given the Qantas Wallabies a major boost ahead of the three-match series with the British & Irish Lions after he declared himself fit to feature in the first Test.

Shane Williams will become the oldest back to play for the British & Irish Lions when he makes his 15th appearance in the famous jersey after answering an emergency SOS from former Wales team mate Rob Howley.