Richards ready to make amends
England debutant attributes success to putting 'the good life' on hold
Gloucester star Peter Richards is ready to stake an early claim for Rugby World Cup recognition on Sunday – eight years after his grisly eyewitness view of England's darkest hour.
Richards has been handed a Test debut opposite the most-capped player in rugby union history – Wallabies skipper George Gregan – when England target only a third victory over Australia in Australia.
Fellow England newcomers Alex Brown and Magnus Lund join Richards in the starting line-up, which features just three survivors from the world champions' last game.
Only wing Tom Voyce, hooker Lee Mears and flank Lewis Moody started the Six Nations finale against Ireland in March, but England's 16-Test RWC countdown begins at Telstra Stadium this weekend with Richards determined to make an impression.
He was a raw 20-year-old when England embarked on their so-called 'Tour from Hell' in 1998, a trip which began with Australia running riot to the tune of 76-0 in Brisbane.
That Suncorp Stadium humiliation remains easily England's record defeat, and although Richards played only a limited part on tour, he has never forgotten it.
"It is nice to be back in totally different circumstances, and I am really looking forward to it," he said, after beating off challenges from fellow uncapped scrum-halves Nick Walshe and Scott Bemand for a starting place.
"I think the approach is a lot different now.
"The strength in depth, maybe, in English rugby at the time wasn't as strong as it is now, and although we have left guys at home we have come out here with a team that can seriously compete.
"Going into the game, I am very positive and looking to pick up a victory."
With Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken both retired, and Leicester's Harry Ellis yet to pin down the successor's role, Richards knows scrum-half is a position potentially up for grabs.
Ellis, alongside more than a dozen England regulars this season, has not travelled to Australia, so Richards understands he could make a strong statement by performing well opposite 118 times-capped Gregan.
Since the miserable 1998 excursion, he has had spells with Harlequins, Bristol, Wasps and currently Gloucester, and Richards admitted: "I have been in the wilderness for a little while.
"But I am slowly working my way back, and this is a golden opportunity.
"I knew I wasn't going to play for England in the centre [a position he often filled at Wasps], and if I wanted to play for England then it would be in the number nine shirt.
"There was competition at Wasps, with Matt Dawson there, and I gathered my future might have been limited. I had to move, and Gloucester gave me an opportunity to play nine regularly, so I couldn't really pass that up.
"You are always serious about your rugby, but perhaps in the past, other things got in the way. When you are younger, you are slightly immature and enjoy the good life too much.
"Then you realise what your goal is and you actually want to work towards it and make sacrifices.
"I had a lame year at Bristol three years ago, but it has been a steady progress since then. Before, things were a little rocky, but the last three years have gone pretty well.
"When you get the jersey and you play well and win, then maybe it is your jersey to retain the following week, then going back to England for the autumn internationals."
Apart from selecting rookies Richards, Brown and Lund, England coach Andy Robinson's line-up includes recalls for 35-year-old Leicester prop Graham Rowntree and London Irish centre Mike Catt – five months Rowntree's junior – with Catt partnering gifted Newcastle prospect Mathew Tait in midfield.
Robinson has also played down injury concerns surrounding Richards and skipper Pat Sanderson ahead of the Telstra Stadium showdown.
Neither player trained today, with Richards nursing a minor wrist problem and Sanderson suffering from stiffness.
But Robinson is confident they will not follow James Simpson-Daniel out of contention for the Telstra Stadium encounter.
Simpson-Daniel was expected to pin down a wing berth alongside Wasps' Tom Voyce, but the injury-hit speedster has once again been left cursing his luck.
Simpson-Daniel, whose international career has previously been stalled by a back injury and glandular fever, was admitted to hospital in Sydney yesterday after suffering a dead leg during training.
He is likely to be discharged later today, but his prospects of featuring in the second Test at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Saturday week appear remote, and Leicester prospect Tom Varndell can now relish a first England start.
Manchester-born Lund, the 6ft 3in son of a Norwegian basketball international, produced an immense display when Sale Sharks were crowned Premiership champions by defeating Leicester at Twickenham last month.
He has been named, though, in the number six shirt, with Moody at seven and Wasps star Joe Worsley resigned to probably winning his 50th cap from the bench.
"This is an opportunity for Magnus, who has had a superb season," said Robinson.
"And [Gloucester lock] Alex Brown would have played during the autumn Tests, but he picked up an injury. He has been knocking on the door since 2001, and this is his chance to step up."
Elsewhere, Catt will enjoy a first England start since the 51-15 defeat against Australia in Brisbane two years ago, making his 66th appearance to move ninth on the all-time England list alongside Neil Back.
