TEENAGE sensation Mathew Tait is hoping to emulate World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson when he makes his international debut in Saturday's Six Nations opener in Cardiff.

Wilkinson was also a fresh-faced 18-year-old when he made his England bow as a replacement in a Six Nations win over Ireland in 1998.

His elevation to the senior ranks was seen as a massive gamble at the time but, within a couple of years, the Newcastle Falcons fly half was being lauded as the number one player in the world.

Similar predictions of greatness are already being showered in Tait's direction, with the youngster being thrust into the international spotlight despite making just 13 senior appearances for his club side.

Wilkinson has taken his team-mate under his wing from the moment he signed his first professional forms at Kingston Park in May.

The fly-half is still nursing a knee injury that will keep him out of most of this year's Six Nations, but his mere presence at England's Pennyhill Park training complex has been crucial in helping Tait settle into his new role.

The Wolsingham-based youngster is still struggling to believe that he will be playing at Cardiff on Saturday but, after watching a replay of Wilkinson's debut earlier this week, the centre is confident he could not have a better role model to aspire to.

"Jonny's been a great help to me this week," said Tait, who will make his debut at the Millennium Stadium alongside another Falcons team-mate, Jamie Noon. "He's been with the squad and he's always been available for help or advice.

"He briefed me earlier this week about what to expect - both in terms of the media build-up and the other pressures that will be put onto me before and during the game.

"Jonny's a fantastic role model. The way he works so hard is an example to anybody wanting to achieve a career in rugby.

"I've got to try and follow his example and, hopefully, that'll help my career to progress as well as his has.

"He was in a very similar position a few years ago so he knows exactly what I'm going through at the moment. Funnily enough, I was watching Jonny's DVD fairly recently and that showed a clip of him making his debut.

"He hasn't done badly since then so, if I can follow him in any way, I'll be more than happy."

This time last year, Tait was still playing for his Barnard Castle School side while also looking forward to England's Under-19s World Cup campaign in South Africa.

He moved nearer to the senior fold when he helped England win the Dubai Sevens in December, but a Six Nations call-up still looked a long way off at the turn of the year.

A succession of injuries quickly changed that though, with Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood and Stuart Abbott falling by the wayside as coach Andy Robinson's options in the centre rapidly shrank.

"I'm not really sure when I'm going to wake up to be honest," admitted a clearly euphoric Tait. "It's a fantastic opportunity for me and I'm just grateful for that.

"I've just got to prove that I'm worth my position in the team and worthy of the faith that the coach has shown in me.

"We were all informed of the team on Monday before we went out to train. Obviously I'm delighted to be playing and I'm honoured to be representing my country.

"It's come sooner than I expected but I'm extremely grateful to have been given this chance."

Robinson has shown admirable faith in Tait's qualities by pitching him into the emotional cauldron of the Millennium Stadium.

With Wales desperate to prove that their recent rehabilitation is no flash in the pan, England's backline can expect to come under ferocious pressure in the early stages of Saturday's game.

But, after watching Tait cope with a series of bulldozing attacks in Perpignan last month, Robinson is confident the 18-year-old has the attitude and ability to withstand anything the Welsh attackers throw at him this weekend.

"I haven't seen any weaknesses in Mathew this week," said the England coach, who is taking charge of his first Six Nations game at the weekend.

"He's fitted in extremely well. It's you guys (the media) that have been mentioning the age but, as far as I'm concerned, Mathew's age doesn't come into the equation at all.

"That's the same for any player. I know Mathew's age has been a talking point, but Mathew's been picked for this game because he's a tremendous rugby player - it's as simple as that.

"He's been playing tremendously well this year and that's why he'll be playing on Saturday. We see him as a rugby player - not an 18-year-old.

"He's shown no sign of nerves and he's fitted into things from the minute he joined up with the rest of the squad. I've got no doubts about him handling things in Cardiff."

Robinson revealed that Matt Dawson's "leadership qualities" had won him the nod over Andy Gomersall at scrum half, while he dismissed any questions over Danny Grewcock's temperament despite an alleged stamping incident with Lawrence Dallaglio last weekend.