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Northampton flanker Tom Wood will make his England debut against Wales in Friday night's RBS 6 Nations showdown after following Martin Johnson's route to the top.

The 24-year-old will start on the blindside at the Millennium Stadium with James Haskell to make his first Test appearance at openside after injuries forced England to reshuffle their pack.

Lewis Moody and Tom Croft are both missing while Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is in danger of being sidelined for the whole championship with a knee injury.

Wood was not included in England's original 33-man Six Nations squad but he has been promoted straight into the starting XV after an impressive season with Northampton.

The 6ft 5in flanker moved to Franklin's Gardens in the summer after three years at Worcester, following a stint playing provincial rugby in New Zealand.

Johnson, now the England team manager, launched his own glittering career with a two-season spell playing for King Country.

And after growing stale at the Worcester academy, Wood found his own season with North Otago to be the perfect rugby education.

"I wanted to break the mould. I had a real good time at Worcester's academy and I felt I was progressing well but I wanted to be in the real world and play some rugby," Wood said.

"To a certain extent, being part of an academy becomes the norm and being a professional rugby player is about prestige.

"I wanted to go back to the good old amateur days. There are boys out there who work four days on a farm and will run over hot coals to make a Tuesday training session.

"I wanted to get back to that and get the real desire to play rugby back into my game.

"I went to New Zealand for about eight months. I felt it was a real good experience for me in life as well in rugby.

"It was a similar kind of thing (to Johnson). It obviously worked for him so why not? I had my own reasons as well.

"I went out there primarily for rugby but I enjoyed the whole experience. I worked full-time and managed my rugby around it and tried to keep a professional attitude to my training.

"I think I came on leaps and bounds. I felt I went out there a boy from the academy and came back ready to play in the first team."

Johnson has spent all week steeling his team for the hostile reception they will receive in Cardiff but he has no qualms about throwing Wood in at the deep end.

"He has impressed everyone with his demeanour and his manner. He came in and without saying it just showed 'I'm not here to make the numbers up, I'm here to have a crack'," he said.

"He's been nothing less than impressive every day he's been with us."

Wood offers England a key back-row line-out option in Croft's absence - but he is just as confident of matching the Welsh forwards on the ground as in the air.

Given Wales' gameplan is often centred around counter-attacking from turnover ball, Wood and Haskell have a key role in nullifying Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate.

"People see me as a line-out forward but there is more to my game than that. I feel like I am equipped to tackle and graft," Wood said.

"The Welsh back row is very competitive. There is no better way to start.

"I don't really know any other way than to get stuck in. That is the approach I took when I arrived in the squad.

"I think you have to earn the respect of the guys around you. I do feel part of the team but I don't think you fully earn the respect of the guys until you have played alongside them.

"It has been a big build-up and the sooner I get on the field the better."

Haskell, who was preferred to Joe Worsley, is traditionally a blindside flanker but after Friday he will have started a Test in all three back-row positions.

"He's better over the ball than people give him credit for. His handling game has really come on as well since he's been in France," Johnson said.

"He's a strong carrier but to be effective in Test match rugby you have to be able to do everything."

Tindall, the 66-Test veteran and the only remaining 2003 World Cup winner in England's starting team, was preferred to Nick Easter as captain.

"Mike's a natural leader anyway with his knowledge of the game and the way he marshals the backline. It was a natural thing for him to step in," Johnson said.

"Nick's got a big job to do anyway leading the pack. Leadership is important in order to retain our composure when you go to a place like the Millennium Stadium."

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