MARTIN JOHNSON is not the sort of man who indulges in mind-games, but yesterday he braced himself to face a wounded animal when Ireland head to Twickenham a week on Saturday.

England manager Martin Johnson today launched a vigorous defence of Jonny Wilkinson and blasted critics for working to their own agenda.

KYRAN BRACKEN believes England’s discipline problem stems from a lack of on-field leadership – and he warned it is not a problem that can be addressed overnight.

BRIAN ASHTON admits he is “a fair distance away” from formulating the World Cup squad that will attempt to create rugby history in seven months.

London Irish 30 Saracens 18

Saracens kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over Ulster but the vast error count turned the clash into a huge disappointment

SARACENS face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tonight, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

Saracens face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tomorrow night, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

Saracens 22 Biarritz 10

Saracens 22 Biarritz 10

Mark Regan has become the eighth member of England’s World Cup-winning squad to retire from international rugby.

Lawrence Dallaglio today became the latest member of England’s World Cup-winning squad to announce his international retirement.

England captain Lawrence Dallaglio looks set to announce his retirement from international rugby tomorrow.

Australia will try to target England’s lack of experience at fly-half when the two sides meet in June’s World Cup final rematch at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

England boss Clive Woodward has decided to rest three World Cup-winning stars for next month’s tour to New Zealand and Australia.

World Cup-winning flanker Neil Back today revealed that having to watch England’s record-ending defeat to Ireland at Twickenham from the bench convinced him it was time to bring an end to his international career.

ENGLAND scrum-half Kyran Bracken has decided to retire from the international arena.

England scrum-half Kyran Bracken has decided to retire from the international arena.

Matt Dawson today revealed the drive for perfection which sees him once more installed as England’s number one scrum-half against Ireland at Twickenham this weekend.

Neil Back has been handed a potential international lifeline by the man who dropped him, England boss Clive Woodward.

VICTOR COSTELLO or Anthony Foley at number eight; Malcolm O’Kelly or Donnacha O’Callaghan in the second-row; Shane Byrne or Frankie Sheahan at hooker; David Humphreys or Ronan O’Gara at out-half; Girvan Dempsey or Gordon D’Arcy at full-back.

England World Cup winner Neil Back has admitted his shock at being axed from the squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy – but has vowed to win back his international place.

WORLD CUP warrior Neil Back is facing a fight to prolong his international career after being left out of England’s RBS Six Nations squad.

England boss Sir Clive Woodward tonight axed three members of his World Cup-winning squad for next Sunday’s Six Nations championship opener against Italy in Rome.

World champions England began the long journey home from Australia today - with thoughts already switching towards a successful defence of their Six Nations Championship crown.

CLIVE WOODWARD wants his entire World Cup-winning squad to be available for selection when England launch their Six Nations Championship campaign in February.

Matt Dawson today insisted he was not “arrogant”.

England boss Clive Woodward today adopted a “horses for courses” selection policy as he recalled centre Mike Tindall to face Australia in the World Cup final.

After watching New Zealand and France flex their World Cup muscle in impressive style over the past 24 hours co-favourites England stepped into the spotlight at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

England will give their Lions flanker Richard Hill every opportunity to recover from a hamstring injury that has decimated his World Cup campaign.

Jason Leonard will equal international rugby’s world cap record when he lines up for England against Wales on Sunday.

Wasps lock Simon Shaw will fly to Australia tonight as a possible World Cup replacement for Danny Grewcock.

Only a perfectionist of the calibre of Jonny Wilkinson could land a flawless seven goals from seven attempts against South Africa and then insist his kicking needed more practice.

England and South Africa are level at 6-6 at half-time in their crunch Pool C encounter at the Subiaco Oval.

Clive Woodward's England faced their day of destiny at Subiaco Oval as the Six Nations champions took on South Africa in a potentially explosive Pool C tussle.

JUDGING by Clive Woodward’s look of thunder it was just as well the Channel 7 cameraman was filming from the open door of a hovering helicopter.

ENGLAND will go into their biggest Test match since the 1999 World Cup without injured Lions Matt Dawson and Richard Hill.

WHEN Jason Robinson last left the field against South Africa he would not hear a word said against the Springboks.

Martyn Wood’s World Cup adventure officially ended today – after just 63 hours in Australia.

Scrum-halves Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken have both been named in England’s 22 for their World Cup showdown with South Africa on Saturday.

Martin Johnson has urged his team-mates to put their bodies on the line to ensure England earn the smoothest possible route to the World Cup final.

Clive Woodward tonight played down fears that the eagerly-awaited World Cup showdown between England and South Africa could turn ugly.

Martyn Wood arrived Down Under last night – and was immediately taken into solitary confinement.