Johnson Set to Be Appointed Tomorrow

Martin Johnson is expected to be confirmed as the new England team manager at a meeting of the Rugby Football Union's management board tomorrow.

The appointment of the former England captain will increase speculation about the future of the head coach, Brian Ashton, with Johnson known to want a say in the selection of the coaching staff and team. Johnson, whose salary is believed to be in the region of £275,000 a year, is expected to take up the post in July after England return from a two-Test trip to New Zealand.

Butch James tonight makes a timely return for Bath in their rearranged Premiership match against Leicester at the Recreation Ground, three months after the South African fly-half suffered a dislocated shoulder at Saracens.

Bath will move to second in the table if they defeat a Leicester side that is looking to break into the top four and in danger of finishing the season without a trophy just a year after they were chasing the

treble. With Wasps taking on Sale tonight, the Tigers could find themselves in sixth place come 10pm. The England lock Steve Borthwick also returns from injury for Bath whose head coach, Steve Meehan, believes that fresh legs will benefit his side in the final six weeks of the season. "The guys who are coming back are rested mentally and the fact that they have not played too much rugby could work in our favour," he said. "The vital thing for us is not to tighten up and start playing conservatively because of what is at stake. The key to success will be to continue to play relaxed rugby because, when we do, we are a match for anybody."

The Leicester lock Louis Deacon acknowledges that defeat would leave the Tigers with it all to do to make the play-offs. "We do not want to finish the season with nothing," he said. "It was frustrating to lose the EDF Energy Cup final to the Ospreys and it summed up our season: we have been inconsistent."

Wasps, who have lost only one of their last 11 league games, have changed their entire pack from last Saturday's victory over Worcester for Sale's visit to Adams Park. The match will match the current England fly-half, Danny Cipriani, with Charlie Hodgson, whose only international contribution in the last eight months was a walk-on role at Murrayfield. "I want to be on the summer tour to New Zealand and it will be a good test to play against Danny," said Hodgson. "I am just concentrating on playing well, regardless of who is in charge when the tour comes around."