Rugby: Tindall Targets Gloucester Bow

Mike Tindall, who has not played this year after foot and shoulder operations, hopes to make his Gloucester bow in a friendly next month, though he is not sure in which position he will be playing.

A World Cup winner in 2003, he has spent his career with Bath and England at outside-centre but Gloucester may try him at inside-centre in partnership with James Simpson-Daniel, who has played most of his rugby on the wing.

"We have not talked about where I will be playing," he said. "It is such a long time since I have been on the field that I am just concentrating on getting back. It is nine weeks since I had surgery but my comeback target is the match against Viadana at the end of August."

Tindall was not considered by the Lions this summer but, as the midway point between the 2003 and 2007 World Cups draws near, he accepts that New Zealand have forged ahead of all the other major unions.

"They have set the benchmark for other teams, and that includes England," he said. "We have to turn things around after a disappointing Six Nations, but change does not happen overnight.

"We have two huge games against South Africa and Australia in November and my aim is to be in contention for a place in the team. It will be difficult with so many good centres around but I do not think Jonny Wilkinson will be con sidered as an inside-centre. You want Jonny and Charlie (Hodgson) to be battling it out for the outside-half jersey."

New Zealand's captain Tana Umaga will have his appearances "manipulated" by the selectors so he can remain fresh for the World Cup.

The All Blacks coach Graham Henry said of Umaga, 32, named player of the series against the Lions: "We think if we look after him he can last but he has to have the desire to do that."

Henry told Radio New Zealand: "He has been playing international rugby for a long time. If we can manipulate his itinerary so he's not overplayed . . . and he doesn't play in every Test and play throughout the Super 14 and the national championship . . . then I think he can go right through."

Henry said earlier that he had considered resting Umaga for the Tri-Nations series, which begins on Saturday when Australia play South Africa in Pretoria. However, Umaga refused to stand down, with Henry saying that the Wellingtonian was "having nothing of that".

The All Blacks play their first Tri-Nations match on Saturday week against the Springboks in Cape Town and their final game against Australia on September 3.

Many of the squad are expected to appear for their provinces in New Zealand's national championship before reassembling on October 27 for a tour of Britain and Ireland.