Rugby World Cup:Mike Tindall was forced to show he can side-step off the field as well as on it after an uncomfortable press conference ahead of Saturday's game with Romania. Tindall was speaking publicly for the first time since tabloid coverage of a team night out in Queenstown.

And Tindall looked sheepish as he faced the media alongside England manager Martin Johnson. But despite the RFU announcing at the start of the session that only questions of a rugby nature would be permitted, both Tindall and an increasingly irate Johnson were forced to fend off the issue.

Tindall briefly denied the last week had been a challenging time for him and said he hoped his form would hold up "fine" as he prepares to start against Romania on Saturday.

That saw Johnson intervene in an attempt to deflect all further questions on the subject, including inquiries as to whether the saga had been a distraction to the squad.

"We have put it to bed. We are looking forward to a big game, we are playing Romania," said Johnson.

Tindall missed the 41-10 victory over Georgia due to squad rotation - but the 2003 World Cup-winning centre is back to start in an England team featuring seven changes.

And when asked whether the last week had been difficult, Tindall mumbled: "Not really, you just get on and train. You want to play every game and I was disappointed I didn't get a run out last weekend but you work hard and hope you get picked by the coach every week. It is as simple as that."

Tindall was then asked whether he had anything to add, whether he wanted to show some "contrition" or offer an explanation and Johnson jumped in.

"I said to you last week what happened, the guys went out and had a drink. We had that conversation last week," said Johnson. "We have moved on. We have played a game and we have another one this week."

Tindall joins Mark Cueto, Jonny Wilkinson, Steve Thompson, Alex Corbisiero, Louis Deacon and Tom Croft in starting against Romania. James Haskell continues at No.8 in the injury-enforced absence of Nick Easter, with Matt Stevens also struggling with an ankle problem and Courtney Lawes suspended.

England:B Foden (Northampton Saints); C Ashton (Northampton Saints), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), M Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Toulon), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); A Corbisiero (London Irish), S Thompson (London Wasps), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), L Deacon (Leicester Tigers), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), L Moody (Bath Rugby, capt), J Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams). Replacements:L Mears (Bath Rugby), D Wilson (Bath Rugby), S Shaw (Unattached), T Wood (Northampton Saints), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester Tigers), D Armitage (London Irish).