Olly Barkley gets a kick out of bigger role in England team

Barkley, whose exclusion from the Six Nations cost him five caps and £45,000, reappears against the All Blacks here on Saturday in a team turned almost totally inside out from the one which beat Ireland at Twickenham three months ago.

Recall: Olly Barkley

Of the 11 changes, Barkley's recall is the most revealing. Earlier this year former coach Brian Ashton overlooked him because of a pending assault case which ultimately never got to court, but he will line up at Eden Park as first-choice inside centre and goalkicker.

Toby Flood, England's No 12 throughout the Six Nations, has been swept aside and Charlie Hodgson's restoration at fly half for the first time in 18 months comes minus the penalty-taking despite his Golden Boot award as the Premiership's top marksman.

Barkley's chance to solve one of England's problem positions at inside centre is due reward for a consistent season.

'The Six Nations was pretty hard for me so this is great. It puts a smile on my face,' he said.

'A lot has happened to me since the World Cup, on and off the pitch. I got too bogged down at the World Cup in trying to put things right. I learned that if you focus on your job, the team takes care of itself. This is a new era and I deserve to be here.

'Brian didn't pick me. I didn't agree but he had his reasons and I had to accept that. Bath were very supportive so I thank them for that.

'I had to put up with a few comments from other players, about them coming to visit me in jail, which lightened the mood. It was a simple matter of concentrating on my rugby and letting the lawyers take care of my case.

'This is not about making up for what I've lost. It's about me doing a job and keeping my place. The No 12 jersey has been up for grabs for years. I didn't take my chance, I've had injuries at bad times but I've known all along that I've got more to give to the white jersey.'

Barkley's extra duties mean Hodgson starts a Test for the first time without being required to kick goals.

England, whose team has been chosen by acting manager Rob Andrew in long-distance consultation with Martin Johnson, have clearly devised the strategy to get the best out of Hodgson.

'This is not a slight on Charlie's goalkicking,' said Andrew. 'There is a lot of responsibility on him to manage the game. We feel giving Charlie one less thing to do makes sense, especially when you have a kicker like Olly in the side.'

Andrew Sheridan is England's only survivor from last year's World Cup Final and the All Blacks are wary of the Sale giant.

New Zealand forwards coach Steve Hansen said: 'When he plays well, England play well. We have to attack Sheridan and dominate them.'

The All Blacks' only change after the stormy 21-11 win over Ireland - Greg Somerville for the injured John Afoa - guarantees Sheridan a different opponent.

For once, coach Graham Henry may not have been talking up the opposition merely for the sake of it.

'We know we have a major challenge on our hands,' he said. 'I don't know whether the New Zealand public understand that but this is going to be a huge Test match.'

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; A Tuitavake, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, A Ellis; N Tialata, A Hore, G Somerville; B Thorn, A Williams; R So'oialo, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt). Substitutes: K Mealamu, J Schwalger, A Boric, S Lauaki, J Cowan, S Donald, L MacDonald.

ENGLAND: M Brown; T Ojo, M Tindall, O Barkley, D Strettle; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan, L Mears, M Stevens; T Palmer, S Borthwick (capt); J Haskell, L Narraway, T Rees. Substitutes: D Paice, T Payne, B Kay, J Worsley, D Care, J Noon, M Tait.