At the heart of the fresh-faced England team that will take on the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham tomorrow will be one of the national team’s youngest half-back pairings. The responsibility for directing England towards a brave new world under Martin Johnson, the team manager, has been entrusted to the two Dannys: Care at scrum half and Cipriani at fly half. Both are 21, both are blessed with blistering pace and, of equal importance, both will bring the exuberance of youth. Enter England’s cheeky boys.

This is not a reference to one of Cipriani’s earlier tabloid-friendly liaisons with one of the Cheeky Girls pop group, rather to the impish sense of adventure that this pairing could bring to England’s attacking play. Nigel Redman, the former Bath and England lock, was the national coach during the Under19 World Championship in Dubai two years ago, when the potency of this partnership became apparent.

“Someone once told me that if you have got a pair of half backs who are both a bit cheeky, with the strength of character to do the unexpected, you’ll be a very difficult side to play against,” Redman said yesterday. “There’s no doubt that the two Dannys fit the bill, on and off the field. They’re both chipper lads, with the confidence and self-awareness to make the step up to the highest level.”

Redman recalls one particular pool match in that tournament, when England needed to beat South Africa and score four tries to qualify for the semi-finals. In the event, they achieved that goal and more, crossing the line six times in a 45-18 victory. “They [Cipriani and Care] were outstanding as a pair in that game,” Redman said. “Everyone played well, but those two really orchestrated the performance.”

Cipriani took a blow to the head in that match, forcing him to miss the subsequent semi-final defeat by New Zealand, who in turn lost to Australia in the final, but both players had already caught the eye. Now they will become England’s fourth-youngest half-back pairing since the 19th century.

“It’s no surprise that they’ve risen so quickly,” Redman said. “If defenders aren’t switched on at the scrum or ruck, Danny Care will cut them to shreds with his pace. The same applies to Cips. Give either of them a yard and they’ll be gone.”

The young ones

England’s youngest half-back pairings:

1873 v Scotland: Stephen Finner (20) and Cecil Boyle (19), average age 20.2

1875 v Ireland: Charles Clarke (18) and Williams Collins (22), 20.4

1876 v Scotland: Collins (22) and William Hutchinson (19), 21

1881 v Ireland: Ryder Richardson (19) and Henry Taylor (22), 20.9

1889 v NZ Natives: William Scott (18) and Fred Bonsor (23), 21.3

1931 v Wales: Jimmy Barrington (22 and Edward Pope (19), 21

1931 v Scotland: Tom Knowles (22) and Pope (19), 21.3

1998 v Australia: Jonny Wilkinson (19) and Scott Benton (23), 21.4

2008 v Pacific Islanders: Danny Cipriani (21) and Danny Care (21), 21.4

Compiled by Stuart Farmer