Six Nations: Luger expected to miss Six Nations clash

England are likely to be without Dan Luger against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.

Luger sustained a neck injury during the early exchanges of the Six Nations victory over Wales in Cardiff.

He was unable to link up with his Saracens team-mates in training all week.

His side recorded a 44-30 win over Sale Sharks at Vicarage Road without him.

But Saracens chief Francois Pienaar was forced to concede his star wing's progress has been slow.

He said: "Dan still has to see a doctor next week. He thinks it's an old injury that's been aggravated.

"He's got a couple of bulging discs in his neck so he still needs more attention.

"It's not been easy for the guys coming back from international rugby to adjust and get organised and we've had to push a few other guys forward.

"We had no fly-half again today but we did look sharp in midfield with Kevin Sorrell and Nick Walshe."

One winger with England aspirations is Sale's Jason Robinson.

But the attention put on him by opposition defences has limited the ex-League man to just two tries in his 10 outings with the Sharks.

Sale director of rugby Glenn Ross longs for the sort of talent inside Robinson that set Saracens up for their victory.

He said: "If Jason could get more ball he would get more tries. At the moment he is like a foil for the other players.

"If he had the platform to work off he would have a field day. He is certainly coming to grips with union.

"He makes mistakes, but then so do others who have been in the game for ever."