England have opted for size up front in anticipation of a fire-and-brimstone encounter with Australia tomorrow — and a playmaker in Sam Tomkins, whose stick-thin legs have prompted fears that he might be blown over in a stiff breeze.

The 20-year-old Wigan Warriors player will have no shortage of protection at scrum half, with Jamie Peacock, the captain, switched to the second row, to accommodate James Graham alongside Adrian Morley at prop, and a couple of giants in Eorl Crabtree and Sam Burgess on the bench.

Not that Tomkins, the subject of a vocal lobby to include him from such past greats as Alex Murphy, needs much looking after. If his footwork cannot get him out of trouble, his wiry frame has already proved surprisingly durable against whatever the sport’s heavy hitters have thrown at him. As for those slender legs, they have the potential to weave more magic than seen from a British half back in a generation or more.

His maverick qualities may have to be curbed somewhat to conform to a team structure against a team of Australia’s ruthless capability. Nonetheless, it is his unpredictability with ball in hand that has persuaded Tony Smith, the England coach, to give him the nod over Richard Myler, the 19-year-old who scored two tries but suffered a blow to the head in the opening Gillette Four Nations defeat of France. “People have had a crack at him in Super League this year and tried to break him to see if he would falter,” Smith said of Tomkins. “I’m sure the Aussies will have a crack at him, too.

“But from what I’ve seen of the young man, he’s able to step up and take most of what’s thrown at him. He has more good days than bad ones. He’s willing to have a go; he’s got some off-the-cuff play that suits him.”

Tomkins will also have the benefit of playing on his home ground at Wigan, where he began the season as understudy at stand-off to Tim Smith, who suffered an injury in June that allowed Tomkins to cement his place.

“At the start of the year, if someone had told me I’d play ten games for Wigan, I’d have bitten their hand off,” Tomkins said. “Twelve months ago, I played in the reserve-team grand final and I’d experienced one Challenge Cup tie before that. It’s been quite a year.”

Crabtree, who is 6ft 6in and 18st and has been knocking on the door of the full international side for the past few years, get his chance after minor knee surgery.

Scott Moore, Crabtree’s Huddersfield Giants team-mate, has been dropped after a disappointing display in the 34-12 win over France and James Roby, promoted from the bench as the only specialist hooker, is likely to play the full 80 minutes.

Smith’s selection

England: S Briscoe; T Briscoe, L Smith, M Shenton, R Hall; D McGuire, S Tomkins; A Morley, J Roby, J Graham, G Ellis, J Peacock (captain), K Sinfield. Interchange: S Burgess, E Crabtree, K Eastmond, B Westwood.