Former Bull Hape has no split loyalties in showdown

Hape was confirmed as England's starting inside centre for the Twickenham showdown with New Zealand after Martin Johnson made just one change from the side that beat Australia 21-20 in June.

Andrew Sheridan returns at loose-head prop in place of Tim Payne after recovering from shoulder surgery that kept him out of action for nearly a year while Lewis Moody continues as captain.

Hape was born in Auckland of Maori descent but all that heritage will be forgotten on Saturday.

In 2007, former Bradford Bulls player Hape switched codes and signed for Bath. In 2009, he switched nationalities after qualifying for England on residency grounds.

Hape made his Test debut in England's drawn summer series with Australia and says: "I am proud of where I come from but ultimately life leads everyone in different directions and now I am representing England.

"This is an opportunity I am relishing. To be give the opportunity to play against my country of birth, who are the number one team at the moment, there is no better challenge.

"The haka is something I have been thinking of. It is a tradition and the culture back home. I have done it before – but if I give any advice to my team-mates it will be to stand tall, stare them back in the eyes and let them know we will accept the challenge.

"When kick-off comes it will be game on."

When New Zealand played at Thomand Park last year, Munster's former All Blacks Rua Tipoki and Doug Howlett responded to the haka with one of their own and Hape recalled the episode in 1989 when Ireland's Willy Anderson marched into the haka to finish toe-to-toe with the All Blacks.

England will be doing no such thing, not least because the International Rugby Board no longer allow it.

"I know the cameras will be on me but I am not going to do anything stupid or jump out and start doing the haka back. It is a challenge we will accept as a team."