Wynne Gray: England showing renewed aptitude

Watching rugby from Europe doesn't spin my wheels too much but England have been making some statements in the Six Nations. It was unusual to see them operating with backline subtlety and playing with some width.

Good to watch, though I fear their more regimented 10-man style of footy will be a tournament necessity and even a victorious strategy as the World Cup moves into sudden-death stages in late October evening weather in New Zealand.

England have Chris Ashton playing on the wing, a man with a family pedigree of sporting excellence who has also played for the national league side.

He's got a big frame and can shift, bagging six tries in just two tests in this year's Six Nations.

He looks likely and in one small mannerism reminds me of Jonah Lomu in the way he carries the ball in his left claw before he launches into a swandive and slams the ball across the chalk.

England coach Martin Johnson is not too pleased with Ashton's antics, though he may have to temper that displeasure as the wing continues to score tries.

Johnson is old-school so he wants Ashton to take better care carrying the ball. He fears a monumental botchup when the wing is about to score a crucial try.

Perhaps Ashton has added value to England's attack and Jonno might just have to cut him some slack.

While that cult hero is emerging north of the equator, a former star is re-emerging tonight at Eden Park after a two-year hiatus.

Ali Williams is starting a comeback he hopes will lead to the World Cup.

All Black history is pitted with stories of men who have hit the scrapheap yet returned to top-level rugby after a serious interlude.

Kieran Crowley had a three-year wait before he got another call-up, while Xavier Rush, Greg Cooper and Mark Carter all had six-year gaps between national appearances.

If Williams is looking for feelgood messages from others who have returned after serious injury, then two of the region's greats, John Kirwan and Michael Jones, should be his signposts.

Kirwan recovered from Achilles tendon surgery and Jones rebounded from multiple injuries, including several wrecked knees, in a stellar career.

Feisty halfback Justin Marshall was another who came back after Achilles tendon damage, and Blues teammate Daniel Braid has a similar comeback tale.

The soon-to-be 38-year-old Jonathan Falefasa Umaga is on the Super Rugby beat after a three-year hiatus. No one really thought the All Blacks' first Pacific Island captain would return to this level, so could there be one more final twist in the Tana tale come World Cup time?