An injury to Wilkinson would not worry confident Woodward

ENGLAND coach Clive Woodward has insisted he would have no worries if he lost Jonny Wilkinson for the likely RBS Six Nations decider against Ireland in Dublin.

Already without Wilkinson’s deputy Charlie Hodgson due to injury, Woodward pledged his faith in Northampton’s recalled Paul Grayson, who will end four years of international exile when he takes his place on the bench against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Woodward said: “I’m very disappointed for Charlie but these things happen. If we were to lose Wilkinson this weekend through injury I’m very confident we would go to Ireland and win with Paul Grayson playing 10. And if Grayson wasn’t there, somebody else would play there.

“That’s the mentality of the squad and we have proved that since our last defeat over a year ago in France,” added Woodward.

“This is a huge game for our team. Scotland have nothing to lose. They won their last match and they have an outstanding pack.”

Woodward backed his decision to bring back prop Jason Leonard, who has not played for five weeks since damaging his hamstring.

Leonard returns with fit-again skipper Martin Johnson, flanker Neil Back, left wing Ben Cohen and Jason Robinson, who will play on the right wing.

Woodward also spelt out the challenge facing Josh Lewsey, the one stand-in to keep his place with his

superb two-try performance in the victory over Italy which has resulted in Robinson lining up on the right wing and Dan Luger dropping to the bench.

Woodward “I’m not sure of Robinson’s best position. I’m just happy to have him on the pitch. He’s a fantastic fullback and a fantastic wing and we’re just lucky to have him.”“The fact we have Lewsey playing at full-back just demonstrates how he showed what he could do when he got his chance in Jason’s position.“Someone stepping up like Josh is good for the squad.”warned: “It’s the first time he has

replaced a big name player rather than being in because of injuries. He’s put Luger on the bench so the pressure is on for him.”

Meanwhile, former Scotland international Roy Laidlaw believes the national team cannot compete with England on a regular basis without Government support.

Laidlaw, who now works for the SRU as international Sevens and under-21s

programme manager, scored one of the tries in Scotland’s last win at Twickenham in 1983.

But the former scrum-half maintains Scottish rugby needs assistance from the political world to match teams like England.

“English rugby is so strong and the professional game has helped them more than other countries. In the amateur days, it was more of a level playing field. Now the game is professional, England have academies

developing players quicker, far more funding from the Lottery and so on.”

But Laidlaw is optimistic England’s long-running winning streak at Twickenham will come to an end. “If the players believe it, then it is possible,” he said.

Elsewhere, France have delayed naming their team to play Italy in the Six Nations Championship on Sunday after four

players went down with gastroenteritis.

The sick list includes No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, props Olivier Milloud and Sylvain Marconnet and flyhalf Gerald Merceron.

Wing Aurelien Rougerie is doubtful with a groin

injury.

"There's no point naming a side today when we might be forced to change it in 24 hours. We'll name the side Thursday," French team manager Jo Maso said Wednesday.

France were expected to make four changes from the team that lost 15-12 to

Ireland. Frederic Michalak is the one certainty, having been brought back to take over at flyhalf from Francois Gelez.

Other possibilities are Thomas Castaignede starting at inside centre for Xavier Garbajosa, who should push out Vincent Clerc on the left wing.

Patrick Tabacco was set to knock out Serge Betsen at blindside flanker and David Auradou should win a recall for lock Olivier Brouzet.