half-backs

Flood and Ben Youngs are the half-backs for England as well as Leicester, although Jonny Wilkinson has made a claim for the national outside-half jersey with match-winning displays for Toulon this season.

Relief for Leicester as Toby Flood signs new deal to stay until 2014 Paul Rees 2010

Irish will monitor Declan Danaher's injured knee and hope their half-backs stay fit.

Toby Booth revels in London Irish's Heineken Cup win over Munster Robert Kitson at Madejski Stadium 2010

The response has been seven changes with Chris Paterson restored at full-back, Sean Lamont coming into the midfield and new half-backs.

Six Nations 2011: Scotland are a team struggling for consistency | Ben Kay 2011

There's the obvious Anglo-Irish confrontations between the half-backs: Eoin Reddan and Johnny Sexton against Youngs and Flood.

Leicester's and Leinster's Heineken meeting is a delicious prospect | Eddie Butler 2011

Leicester's England half-backs, Ben Youngs and Toby Flood, looked in need of a rest, mentally rather than physically jaded.

Leicester 41-41 Gloucester | Aviva Premiership match report 2011

The statistics of the respective half-backs on Saturday were revealing.

Six Nations 2011: England's lessons for World Cup | Paul Rees 2011

Given Leicester will be stronger when reunited with their England contingent, notably the influential half-backs Ben Youngs and Toby Flood, this optimistic diagnosis may yet prove accurate.

Leicester 14-15 Saracens | Aviva Premiership match report 2011

But the key to the whole game was the match-up between the half-backs.

Six Nations 2011: Toby Flood plays key role in England win | Ben Kay 2011

Hines is a great player, but the French half-backs exposed the lack of pace in the Scottish back row in Paris last month and, if Youngs gets the chance of a blindside break or two, Scotland could be exposed again.

Reborn Louis Deacon is epitome of England's quiet revolution 2011

In a Four Nations fixture at Wigan two years ago, he was largely responsible for Australia surging to a 26‑0 half‑time lead, as he was regularly sent galloping through huge gaps by his Queensland half-backs, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.

Jack Reed and England prepare to face Greg Inglis and Australia 2011