IF A single player can shape England's challenge in today's international against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham that individual is likely, to be Andy Gomarsall, the 22 year old Wasp scrum half who made a remarkable two try debut against Italy a week ago.

In fact Gomarsall has so much confidence, inventiveness and dynamic power in his stocky 13 1/2 stone frame that he could easily pass for a classic All Black number nine were it not for the white shirt and the red rose of England.

Gomarsall's willingness to take risks and, put his judgment on the line has been refined and developed through years of international rugby at every age level, culminating in seven England A appearances before his first full cap. Despite his youth he already has the authority and know how to boss a formidable England pack that includes two club captains in the back row and another in the front row.

Gomarsall may take a bit longer to fashion an effective working partnership with his fly half Mike Catt, another player who enjoys springing surprises, but the newcomer has the vital ability to ferret out gaps that offers the best chance of crossing the New Zealand line. While it is fairly certain the England back row will give as good as it gets in loose play the question of what happens with second phase ball will be settled for good or ill by the irrepressible scrum half.

Gomarsall acknowledges he has a tendency to get over involved and to take the ball in where others fear to tread yet it would be wrong to curb his almost naive belief that taking decisions off the cuff will pose a bigger threat to the Kiwis than mere reliance on method and organisation. "I aim to carry out the basics well but if the gaps do appear I would hope to find a way through them," explained the man who put the Italians to the sword twice with short range strikes that had "go for it" written all over them.

Having waited patiently for two years to get the call from Jack Rowell, Gomarsall is determined not to slip back to the bench or the A team after his bright start and see his place go to Bracken, Dawson or Healey. Another former England scrum half Nigel Melville, the Wasps director of rugby told Gomarsall the day he was picked that he must not become a shooting star who rapidly disappears from sight.

It is characteristic of Rowell that he has put Gomarsall's Wasp partner Alex King on the bench in an effort to increase competition for places within the family" and perhaps bring the best out of the gifted but inconsistent Catt. The Bath player has played only a couple of his 19 international appearances in the No 10 shirt but at this stage of his England career the 25 year old needs a convincing display against the Southern Hemisphere side to establish his credentials firmly in his new role.

Certainly Catt's eagerness to adopt a flat alignment and play into the teeth of the opposition with ensure quick ball does not go to waste through lack of ambition. Will Carling, who received a generous testimonial from the New Zealand coach John Hart this week, should relish the opportunity to cut a swathe through the midfield with his penchant for straight running. De Glanville, too, should be a beneficiary of Catt's positive outlook.

Perhaps wisely the England captain has chosen to talk down the obvious strike potential of his attractive young side, which, notwithstanding the back row's explosive power, only fired on three cylinders for much of the Italy game. No doubt Stimpson, Adebayo and Sleightholme not to mention de Glanville will be hoping to get the ball in their hands more often and more quickly than last Saturday.

"There's no question we're up against the best team in the world - we have to be realistic about that," said de Glanville yesterday. Any side that goes to South Africa and wins a Test series as they have done deserves a lot of respect. I'm not playing mind games when I say we're going out there to learn and to develop our own game. New Zealand will not play Barbarians rugby though I think they have a good attitude to playing an open game.

The New Zealanders will make a decision on the fitness of Jonah Lomu this morning.

"It will be a test of our attitude to rugby at a time when we need to sell the professional game more than ever. I don't mind if the players make mistakes as long as they express themselves - that's the challenge when you play for the Barbarians and I believe it's important for us all to enter into that spirit," the New Zealander coach, John Hart, said.