Prop idol Stevens is determined to hit right note

Matt Stevens's remarkable return from his two-year drugs ban continued today as he was named in England's starting line-up for Saturday's match with Wales.

Stevens has not played Test rugby for three years and only returned from a two-year ban for taking cocaine in January.

The 28-year-old prop will play on the tight-head side of the scrum at Twickenham as England contest the first of their three warm-up matches before the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand gets underway with a game against Argentina on September 10.

His chances of making the cut for the 30-man squad are increased by Stevens' ability to play at loose head but he is currently in competition with six other props.

Stevens signed for Saracens after completing his ban from the game and is on a remarkable winning run of 16 successive matches for club and England's second string team the Saxons.

Stevens was born in South Africa and team manager Martin Johnson will have six foreign-born players in the starting XV on Saturday.

Manu Tuilagi, the youngest member of a famous Samoan rugby dynasty, has been handed his debut, whilst Rikki Flutey (born in New Zealand) will play alongside him in the centre; Alex Corbisiero (United States) will be at prop; Simon Shaw (Nairobi) second row and Dyan Hartley (also New Zealand) at hooker.

Tuilagi, who was banned for five weeks for punching England wing Chris Ashton at the end of last season, is just 20 years old and was born in the Samoan village of Fatausi-Fogapoa arrived in England seven years ago.

However, last summer the Home Office ruled he would not be allowed to stay in the UK, having arrived on a six-month holiday visa. He faced the threat of deportation but a campaign by his club, the RFU and three local MPs, Edward Garnier, Keith Vaz and Andrew Robathan, supported by a local media and a Facebook campaign helped solve the crisis.

Six of the Tuilagi brothers have played for Leicester with four; Henry, Alex, Andy and Freddie being capped by Samoa. Manu will make his debut wearing the controversial new black England jersey in a team captained by Lewis Moody, of Bath, who was ruled out of the Six Nations championship winning team by a knee injury.

Moody handed the captaincy first to Mike Tindall and then Nick Easter, but the 33-year-old is the man the England manager, Martin Johnson, wants to lead his squad into the World Cup. While England go into the match as the Six Nations champions, Wales are searching for real consistency having, at least, been competitive during the tournament.

The second warm-up game will take place against England in nine days time with Gavin Henson expected to play in both games.

The importance of the warm-up matches can be judged by the Six Nations putting in place disciplinary and anti-doping arrangements to mirror the recent tournament.