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• Peter Richards

Australia v England, Sunday June 11, 10.30am, live on Sky Sports 1

England scrum-half Peter Richards has been handed the starting jersey for Sunday's clash with Australia, and he intends to put down an immediate marker - signalling the start of his international career.

Richards is one of three uncapped players to be selected to face the Wallabies in Sydney, and at 28 years of age, he is determined to make the most of his late opportunity.

The probing half-back previously had spells at Bristol and Wasps before finally showcasing his true ability at Gloucester, and now he will line up against the world's most capped player in George Gregan.

One could forgive a player for suffering a slight inferiority complex, particularly with Harry Ellis laying claim to the number nine shirt, but Richards is adamant that it is now up to others to take the jersey away from him.

"I have been in the wilderness for a little while," said the Gloucester man. "But I am slowly working my way back, and this is a golden opportunity.

"You are always serious about your rugby, but perhaps in the past, other things got in the way. When you are younger, you are slightly immature and enjoy the good life too much.

"Then you realise what your goal is and you actually want to work towards it and make sacrifices.

"When you get the jersey and you play well and win, then maybe it is your jersey to retain the following week, then going back to England for the autumn internationals."

Richards' first taste of international action came on the infamous 1998 tour, the site of England's heaviest defeat - a 76-0 crushing at the hands of the Wallabies.

In typically poetic manner, the plucky scrum-half now has the chance to bury those memories by making Australia the site of his international launch-pad, and he believes the current England squad are much stronger than eight years ago.

"It is nice to be back in totally different circumstances, and I am really looking forward to it," he added. "I think the approach is a lot different now.

"The strength in depth, maybe, in English rugby at the time wasn't as strong as it is now, and although we have left guys at home we have come out here with a team that can seriously compete.

"Going into the game, I am very positive and looking to pick up a victory."