Martin Johnson last night took a swipe at critics of England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson – and insisted the whole team must bear responsibility for the uninspiring performance against Italy.

SHANE BYRNE will lead an Ireland Legends rugby team against the England Legends at The Stoop in Twickenham on the eve of Ireland-England Six Nations game.

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

FORGOTTEN England fly-half Charlie Hodgson has reappeared on Martin Johnson’s selection radar – and Cardiff Blues could find out why today.

A HOST of big names will take part in the first ever Stuart Mangan Memorial match between England and Ireland Legends at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, February 26 – the night before the countries meet in the Six Nations at Twickenham.

READING goalkeeper Adam Federici scored a dramatic stoppage-time leveller against Cardiff to keep the Royals in the Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion places after their 1-1 draw yesterday.

ENGLAND superstar Jonny Wilkinson has insisted “the fire is still there” despite being dropped for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland at Twickenham.

PAUL GRAYSON has paid the price for Northampton’s relegation from the Guinness Premiership by losing his role as head coach.

NORTHAMPTON chairman Keith Barwell has promised there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Saints’ humiliating exit from the Guinness Premiership.

Raphael Ibanez has declared Wasps’ Heineken Cup semi-final clash against Northampton tomorrow as a “time to deliver” in the pursuit of another European title.

Dafydd James is already established as a Heineken Cup record-breaker – but his sights are set on another landmark feat this weekend.

Ulster's Paul Shields will move to Northampton Saints in the summer.

Uncapped Harlequins wing David Strettle has been summoned to join preparations for England’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland after Jason Robinson suffered a neck injury in training.

England have suffered an injury scare ahead ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland after wing Jason Robinson was hurt during training.

Munster star Ronan O’Gara believes the European champions need to slash their error-count in Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with Leicester at Thomond Park.

NORTHAMPTON boosted their hopes of earning a quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup with a solid bonus-point triumph over struggling Borders in a match switched from storm-lashed Netherdale to Murrayfield at short notice.

Northampton boss Paul Grayson is under no illusions about the task facing his Heineken Cup quarter-final hopefuls in tomorrow’s clash against Border Reivers.

England 18 Argentina 25

DEAN RYAN believes the hype surrounding Gloucester’s exciting young England hopefuls is “distracting from reality” as his team look destined for an early Heineken Cup exit.

Biarritz 22 Northampton 10

ENGLAND could add a Grand Slam-winning coach to their backroom team for this summer’s tour of Australia.

Ben Cohen has warned England ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield that Scotland winger Sean Lamont is “already world-class and getting better”.

WHEN Mick O’Driscoll re-signed for Munster recently after two years with Perpignan, some fans suggested it was a detrimental step for the province.

Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll tonight labelled Jonny Wilkinson as “world-class” – wherever he plays.

LIONS captain Brian O’Driscoll yesterday hailed the addition of Jonny Wilkinson to the touring party as a “big boost” to his side’s chances of glory in New Zealand.

Northampton have admitted they have made an offer to Carlos Spencer in the hope of luring the All Blacks fly-half to Franklin’s Gardens.

PAUL GRAYSON has insisted Northampton intend doing far more than merely making up the numbers in their daunting Heineken Cup mission against French aristocrats Toulouse tonight.

Champions Wasps powered home three second-half tries to sink London Irish today in the Zurich Premiership.

Northampton 33 Glasgow 23

Northampton 33 Glasgow 23

NORTHAMPTON are ready to close in on an unlikely Heineken Cup quarter-final place tonight, with skipper Steve Thompson vowing: “We will give it our all.”

Llanelli 20 Northampton 22

Worcester coach Andy Keast has vowed his team will “come back fighting” against London Irish on New Year’s Day after they returned to the Zurich Premiership basement.

London Irish 21 Northampton 22

London Irish 21 Northampton 22

BATH have been left to pick through the pieces of a botched Italian job which has effectively left their Heineken Cup hopes in tatters.

Bath tonight began picking through the pieces of a botched Italian job which has effectively left their Heineken Cup hopes in tatters.

Northampton 23 Toulouse 21

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

Northampton put their domestic troubles behind them to record a second successive Heineken Cup victory and remain firmly on course for the quarter-finals.

England hooker Steve Thompson could make his comeback from injury in Northampton’s Heineken Cup clash against Llanelli Scarlets this weekend.

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

PAUL BURKE spoke last night about “his hardest decision” as he prepares to leave Harlequins and join Alan Gaffney’s Munster.