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Michael Lipman made his England debut against New Zealand. Four years later, he collects cap No 10 against the same opposition, though this time on Saturday at Twickenham rather than Auckland’s Eden Park, a time frame that only confirms the difficulties the Bath flanker has found along the international way.

He admits, too, that he did not necessarily expect to be packing down against the All Blacks on the open side. “I think Tom has been playing very well over the last three weeks and I don’t usually say that about a guy who plays in the same position,” Lipman said. “I spoke to him after the team was named, but I have to recognise that this gives me an opportunity.”

At least the No 7 shirt gives Martin Johnson genuine options. It is every team manager’s ideal to have players of similar stature challenging for every position and England do not have that luxury at the moment, but so well has Lipman been playing for his club that Johnson has been eager to see him start at some stage during the Investec Challenge Series.

Indeed, the Bath joint-captain, alongside Alex Crockett, is convinced the extra element of leadership that he brings will help to fill a gap that was apparent against South Africa last Saturday. “I’m not sure how well we coped with the Springboks’ rush defence, we didn’t adapt the way we wanted,” he said. “That’s an issue, dealing with things on the pitch.

“You need to fix things straight away and I think we were a bit quiet out there, we let things happen. Steve may have been out there by himself. You need voices, you need people to direct, work out what’s going wrong and put them right on the spot.”

This is the kind of confidence that Lipman, whose club lead the Guinness Premiership, can bring, part of which stems from the company he kept playing representative rugby early in his career.

The 28-year-old was brought up in Sydney and appeared in a 20-16 under-19 victory for Australia against New Zealand in 1999. The young Wallabies included George Smith and David Lyons in the back row against a junior All Blacks side with Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins in their back row and Mils Muliaina and Aaron Mauger in the backs. The New Zealand fly half was one Riki Flutey, now the England inside centre.

Lipman was disappointed not to be given a chance during last summer’s two internationals in New Zealand, having started four games in this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship.

“I’m looking to make things right now and it will be a great challenge against Richie, one I’m looking forward to,” Lipman said. “When you play New Zealand it’s tough, from the first minute to the 80th, you have to come out and play them at their own game.

“You can’t be intimidated by the black jersey. If you set the tempo, create your own opportunities, set the standard, you’re in with a chance.”

Lipman acknowledges the strengths that Rees offers England but suggests he brings other qualities: leadership is one, his ball-carrying another and his pride in his defensive attributes is sure to come under scrutiny by New Zealand. “That’s vital against any Tri-Nations side,” he said, aware that England’s work at the breakdown has not given the backs sufficiently swift possession.

There is the possibility, too, that what Brian Smith, the attack coach, wants from his players may not be too far away from Bath’s style, but that took time to grow. “It started with Brian Ashton, then Steve Meehan came in and gave us the ‘no-fear’ attitude in attack,” Lipman said. “But it took us about a year or more. England have the guys to do it, but it can’t happen overnight.”