Andy Robinson has warned that England’s chances of defending the World Cup will be ruined unless he receives the full support of all the Guinness Premiership clubs next season.

London Irish coach Brian Smith insisted Mike Catt was the man to solve England’s problematic inside-centre position after his side’s 30-18 win over Saracens at the Madejski Stadium.

FORMER Irish international Conor O’Shea has been promoted by the RFU in England to the position of national academy director in a backroom re-shuffle yesterday which saw Andy Robinson retain his position as England coach, but a host of his lieutenants get the chop.

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

Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan has braced his players for a ferocious onslaught from England tomorrow with the stricken world champions seeking to “exorcise their demons".

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll is warning his men to prepare for an England backlash in the last match of the RBS Six Nations Championship at Twickenham on Saturday.

Twickenham boss Francis Baron has stressed the need for England to halt their slump ahead of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship appointment with Ireland.

Former Lions back Austin Healey believes it is time for Andy Robinson to stand down as coach after England’s 31-6 defeat by France virtually ended their hopes of claiming the Six Nations Championship crown.

Newspaper reports suggest England coach Andy Robinson could be asked to restructure his backroom staff in the wake of this year’s Six Nations campaign.

Rugby Football Union chief Francis Baron insists Andy Robinson’s position as England head coach is “fireproof” through to the 2007 World Cup.

FORMER Ireland defensive coach Mike Ford will be named as Saracens head coach when he returns from the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

AFTER spending Monday being kept out of the limelight by anxious Lions press handlers, Gavin Henson was once more the centre of media attention in Invercargill last night.

LEST anyone was in any doubt, Saturday’s game in Rotorua provided the perfect preparation for what the British and Irish Lions can expect over the next five weeks.

The Lions think-tank is expecting a full-on, up-front challenge from provincial side Bay of Plenty when they begin their 2005 tour of New Zealand at the Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow (8.10am).

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL is relishing the prospect of leading the British & Irish Lions into action for the first time against Bay Of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday.

CLIVE WOODWARD yesterday revealed that Jonny Wilkinson was picked for Lions duty this summer on the strength of his final club performance of the season.

Isabelle Rondeau, Paris

England boss Andy Robinson wants to recreate a “fortress Twickenham” factor - starting with tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash against fellow wooden spoon candidates Italy.

Ireland 19 England 13

THIS was never going to be pretty but, by God, was it compelling. With 20 minutes to go and Ireland defending for their lives you could cut the tension in Lansdowne Road with a knife.

THIS particular group of Argentinian players must be wondering what they have to do to beat Ireland. A year ago in Adelaide, a one-point defeat by the Irish ensured an early exit from the World Cup.

England lock Danny Grewcock has warned it is not only South Africa’s physical prowess that must be contained during this weekend’s Twickenham showdown.

World Cup winner Mike Tindall claims tomorrow’s Twickenham clash against Canada provides a “perfect start” to the international season for new-look England.

ENGLAND’S retired World Cup heroes are unlikely to be on the plane with former boss Clive Woodward for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer - but everybody else seems to be.

England’s retired World Cup heroes look unlikely to be considered by their former boss Clive Woodward for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

Clive Woodward today unveiled the largest coaching and management team in Lions history, including Eddie O'Sullivan and Dave McHugh.

England’s World Cup coaching team is set to be reunited for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

CLIVE WOODWARD will seek to raise the contentious issue of international training days with the home nations in a bid to ensure the Lions head on their journey to New Zealand as the best prepared squad ever to leave these shores.

Clive Woodward will seek to raise the contentious issue of international training days with the home nations in a bid to ensure the British and Irish Lions head on their journey to New Zealand as the best prepared squad ever to leave these shores.

ANDY ROBINSON last night rolled up his sleeves and prepared to tackle the toughest task in British sport - replacing Clive Woodward.

Hugh Vyvyan is relishing the opportunity to test himself against some of the biggest names in world rugby when England meet the Barbarians on Sunday.

THEY came from far and wide to view a true contest in every sense of the word. Even Roy Keane and John O’Shea swapped their familiar red of Manchester United for that of their native province.

ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward handed Olly Barkley his first Test match start, and declared: “I have no fears about him”.

England boss Sir Clive Woodward today handed Olly Barkley his first Test match start, and declared: “I have no fears about him.”

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL can expect a very warm welcome from the world champions when he leads Ireland out at Twickenham today.

CLIVE WOODWARD’S appointment as coach of the 2005 Lions is expected to be confirmed today.

More plaudits will be heaped on England’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward today when he is presented with the UK coach of the year award by Princess Anne.

DESPITE the fact that the semi-final pairings had been predicted with virtual certainty prior to the outset of the World Cup competition, the interest in this weekend’s two clashes is phenomenal.

Raphael Ibanez today predicted a World Cup semi-final of “enormous intensity” when France and England clash at Telstra Stadium.

French coach Bernard Laporte has tipped England’s defence to win the World Cup.

When Mike Ford took on the role of defence guru with the Irish rugby union squad he freely admits it was with the intention of furthering his chances of getting a Super League coaching role. Now he is not sure if he would accept one even if it was offered.

England defence guru Phil Larder believes it will be tough for any team to emulate Australia’s remarkable 1999 achievement in winning the World Cup by conceding only one try.