Coach's view: The word was out that form mattered, and Cueto matters

Not so much a dress rehearsal. More a gentle audition for some promising understudies looking to break through into the drama that is Test match rugby. How much did we learn? Not one heck of a lot, to be honest; because this game bore little or no resemblance to the real thing. Caps may well have been awarded but nobody in a white shirt was truly tested in a half-empty Twickenham yesterday.

Not so much a dress rehearsal. More a gentle audition for some promising understudies looking to break through into the drama that is Test match rugby. How much did we learn? Not one heck of a lot, to be honest; because this game bore little or no resemblance to the real thing. Caps may well have been awarded but nobody in a white shirt was truly tested in a half-empty Twickenham yesterday.

Some lovely individual tries, notably by Jason Robinson and Charlie Hodgson, lit up the afternoon. But that simply reinforced what everybody already knew: that they are very skilful players who will cut any unorganised defence to pieces.

Before the game, Andy Robinson talked about playing with less fear and more enjoyment; being less structured and more fluid in approach. Yesterday it was impossible to come to any judgement on whether such lofty aims will be achieved. England were always going to find gaps in the Canadian defence as long as they did not either over-complicate things or have a disastrous day in terms of ball retention. While Hodgson was on the pitch the world champions were always going to have a cutting edge.

In some significant ways he is a more complete fly-half than Johnny Wilkinson - although his tactical and goalkicking skills will come under a rigorous examination in the weeks to come. But he has tightened up his defence, can pass 20 metres off both hands and poses a running threat. He will give England real width against any opposition. The next two games will answer the key question: can he run and manage a game at this level?

Indeed it was almost surreal to watch a game of rugby that included almost no tactical kicking from the dominant side. The only kicks Hodgson was called upon to execute were of the offensive variety - one high kick-pass to the left wing was beautifully weighted. But when there is no need for any up-and-unders, wipers or diagonals against the grain, you know that the game did not really need to be managed at half-back. Mind you, Andy Gomarsall didn't even feel the need to kick offensively. He just had to run or pass.

In some ways there were more clues to the features of the Robinson era in selection rather than the game itself. The selection of Julian White and Graham Rowntree is a clear indication that whatever the more esoteric ambitions of the new England coach, he will be placing a huge emphasis on scrummaging. The two Tigers props have been in excellent form this season in the Zurich Premiership, dominating the angle of the scrum on their own ball, thus giving the back row and scrum-half every possible option they could wish for. At the same time they cause all manner of problems on the opposition ball. Yesterday was a regulation day at the office for them - in total control, albeit against moderate opposition. If they can dominate next week, then England will have a real base to build upon.

On the wide outside, Mark Cueto looked a more balanced power-runner than the man he succeeded, Ben Cohen. Similar in build but more agile, the Sale flyer had a good debut. This selection was also highly symbolic. Originally Cueto wasn't a member of the wide-squad of 60 picked by Sir Clive Woodward in August. But with a new man in charge the word was out that form mattered. If you played well consistently, you had a chance even if you had been previously excluded.

Sometimes coaches don't have to say too much. They just need to pick the team to get across a particular message. The players are never slow to decipher exactly what is required. An experienced guy in the form of Matt Dawson is dropped entirely for putting outside interests before the team, while Cueto is fast-tracked because his form is so good. Go figure who's in charge now.

No need to pontificate at length about a team in transition and not selecting on the basis of a player's CV. To be frank, the Robinson era begins next week but it will be interesting to see if he has read anything at all into yesterday's display. Somehow I doubt it; I think the same team will start against South Africa.

Robbo strikes me as far too shrewd a judge and man-manager to start making changes on the basis of a souped-up training run. Yesterday was Test match rugby in name only; next week we'll see a new team and a new leader in significant action for the first time.