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Toby Flood has described his disappointment at missing out on the England starting XV to play South Africa but is ready to make an impact from the bench.

The Leicester Tigers fly-half was named among the replacements for Saturday's game at Twickenham as Danny Cipriani kept his place despite an indifferent performance in the 28-14 defeat against Australia.

Flood made a brief, eight-minute cameo against the Wallabies and hopes for more when Martin Johnson's side take on the team that beat them in last year's World Cup final.

"It's always disappointing not to start a Test match, but at the same time you realise what the reasons are for the manager's decision, and it's important for the team to have some stability," Flood told Eurosport-Yahoo!

"There is a new coaching setup and different techniques being implemented, so I suppose it is good to have a settled team to start with."

Johnson has made just one change from the side that played Australia - bringing in flanker James Haskell - and Flood understands the manager's decision to keep faith with Cipriani.

"He is a very good player of course. Things are not all going his way at the moment but that happens to every player, and there is no doubt that he is a very talented individual," he said.

The fast, physical nature of modern rugby has made it a true squad game, especially against a bruising side like the Springboks, and Flood is preparing to make his presence felt from the bench.

"You go into the game with a very different mindset when you are on the bench - more relaxed," he said.

"You don't want to expend too much energy because you don't know when you are going to come on - it could be the first minute or the 75th minute.

"I change things like when I take my supplements - I won't take them all before a game. I'll keep a can of Red Bull on the bench and have a few sips during the match to keep up a supply of caffeine."

South Africa were less than convincing against Scotland, coming from 10-0 down to win 14-10 - that performance coming on the back of a disappointing summer Tri-Nations campaign.

But Flood thinks the close result at Murrayfield had more to do with a resurgent Scotland than any South African vulnerability.

He said: "They are not at all vulnerable. They are one of the best teams in the world, and are very strong. They are world champions for a reason and can still beat anyone on their day.

"Scotland deserve a lot of credit for how they played - they played some good stuff and rattled South Africa early on."

After the confusion of the Brian Ashton era, Johnson's appointment as undisputed team boss has already started to reap dividends.

Flood believes Johnson's clarity, and his decision to name a 32-man elite squad in July for the autumn internationals, has led to significant improvements.

"I think there's a different structure in place. It's more hierarchical and there is more communication. The guys are really enjoying it. Martin is a commanding figure and the guys are responding to it well.

"There is more two-way communication than before. We're in constant contact with Brian Smith, John Callard and Mike Ford.

"Because there is a 32-man squad, you know you are going to be involved in the matches. You might be dropped but in the meantime you have constant communication.

"Previously the squads weren't officially announced and the coaches couldn't talk to you without giving the game away about who was in.

"[Johnson] is very clear. Speaking at half-time and full-time there are no frills - he says only what's needed and that's great."

Alex Chick / Eurosport