Wilko injury gives England headache

Gloucester 39 Newcastle 23

Wilkinson, whose Test career has been blighted by repeated injury setbacks since his drop-goal won England the 2003 World Cup, lasted just 25 minutes at Kingsholm as Gloucester posted a bonus-point Guinness Premiership victory.

He was helped away after appearing to hurt his knee when he was cleared out of a ruck which formed following a trademark Wilkinson tackle on Gloucester fullback Olly Morgan.

The initial signs did not look good, with 29-year-old Wilkinson in clear discomfort as he departed the action less than six weeks before England launch Martin Johnson’s managerial era against the Pacific Islanders.

Danny Cipriani, who ended last season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship in possession of the England number 10 shirt, is not due to begin his comeback from a horrific ankle injury until tomorrow night.

Cipriani was not even named in the 32-man elite England squad earlier this year, given an anticipated recovery timescale of six months, and although the Wasps star is back ahead of schedule, Johnson could still face a flyhalf conundrum.

On the field, Newcastle battled bravely without their talisman as Gloucester struggled to impose themselves on the contest until late on.

The Falcons were ultimately undone by Gloucester wing Iain Balshaw’s hat-trick of tries and a late James Simpson-Daniel double, while flyhalf Olly Barkley booted four penalties and Willie Walker slotted a late conversion.

Hooker Matt Thompson’s opportunist 47th-minute touchdown from a lineout and centre Tom May’s breakaway score briefly cut the Gloucester advantage to three points.

The Falcons finally wilted when Balshaw completed his hat-trick 13 minutes from time, although Newcastle still had enough about them to register a third try when captain Phil Dowson went over.

Gloucester scorers: Tries: Balshaw 3, Simpson-Daniel 2. Cons: Barkley. Pens: Barkley 4.

Newcastle scorers: Tries: Thompson, May, P Dowson. Cons: Clegg. Pens: Wilkinson, Clegg.