Wilkinson ‘ready and available’ for England

JONNY WILKINSON has been declared “ready and available” to make a startling England comeback in the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Scotland at Twickenham.

The Newcastle fly-half played a central role during England’s three-day training camp earlier this week, with head coach Brian Ashton describing his contribution as “staggering”.

Wilkinson’s successful return for the Falcons on Saturday followed a 12-week absence recovering from kidney damage, and speculation has intensified about a possible Calcutta Cup appearance next Saturday.

The 27-year-old has missed England’s last 30 Test matches — the result of a depressing injury catalogue — since his dramatic drop-goal secured 2003 World Cup glory.

Wilkinson was retained by Ashton in a 29-man England squad preparing for Scotland’s visit, with the starting line-up due to be announced today.

England’s record points scorer played more than half the game as Newcastle lost 39-5 against Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester at Welford Road.

Falcons director John Fletcher said: “They are not my decisions, but he is ready to play.”

While Wilkinson might have forced himself into the selection frame, Bristol No 8 Dan Ward-Smith is coming to terms with seeing his Six Nations dream cruelly destroyed by injury.

The New Zealand-born forward had been widely tipped to make a Test debut against Scotland, but he could now face six months out after suffering a dislocated right kneecap and suspected ruptured tendon in a pile-up on his own line during Bristol’s 14-8 Premiership victory over Northampton.

Meanwhile fly-half David Skrela is set to start France’s Six Nations opener in Italy next Saturday — five years after he won his one and only international cap.

The Stade Francais player, who picked up an injury in his side’s 22-10 French championship win against Toulouse on Saturday where he kicked five penalties, last appeared for the national team in June 2001 in a 37-12 defeat to the All Blacks in Wellington.

Skrela should take the field in Rome looking to make his mark in France’s problematic position and is likely to have Clermont’s Pierre Mignoni alongside him at scrum-half.

Sale number eight Sebastien Chabal returns to back row contention for the first time since being injured in the 43-8 win over Tonga in November 2005. Toulouse’s Clement Poitrenaud should fill the full-back position in the absence of Saracens Thomas Castaignede.

Winger Vincent Clerc, of Toulouse, was also a late call-up after Clermont’s Aurelien Rougerie was ruled out through suspension.

France squad - forwards: Ibanez (Wasps), Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Marconnet (Stade Francais), De Villiers (Stade Francais), Milloud (Bourgoin), Nallet (Castres), Pape (Castres), Thion (Biarritz), Betsen (Biarritz), Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Chabal (Sale), Harinordoquy (Biarritz).

Backs: Mignoni (Clermont), Yachvili (Biarritz), Traille (Biarritz), Skrela (Stade Francais), Fritz (Toulouse), Jauzion (Toulouse), Dominici (Stade Francais), Heymans (Toulouse), Clerc (Toulouse), Poitrenaud (Toulouse)