Dawson latest England injury worry

Scrum-half Matt Dawson today gave England their latest injury scare ahead of next Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Dawson has been withdrawn from the Wasps starting line up for tonight’s Zurich Premiership clash against Bath at the Causeway Stadium.

World Cup winner Dawson, crucial to England’s hopes of victory next weekend, is suffering from a strained right calf muscle.

There is no clear indication at this stage about its severity but the injury is yet another concern for England head coach Andy Robinson.

Robinson is understood to have settled on his starting XV for the Millennium Stadium clash, which is set to include Dawson for a first Test appearance of the season.

If though, he is ruled out, then Robinson must decide whether to retain Gloucester’s Andy Gomarsall or promote exciting Leicester prospect Harry Ellis.

Robinson is already without the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood, Richard Hill and Martin Corry through injury, and he could now also lose Newcastle centre Jamie Noon.

Noon limped off during Newcastle’s 31-13 Premiership defeat against Saracens last night after taking a heavy blow on his left thigh.

Noon and his Falcons colleague Mathew Tait are believed to be inked in as the midfield partnership against Wales, but Robinson might now be forced into a rethink.

“Jamie has got a dead leg and we will not know how bad it is for another 48 hour,” said Newcastle Rugby Director Rob Andrew, before the Falcons headed back to Tyneside.

“If dealt with properly, you are normally OK. We got him off pretty much straight away, and that is one of the important things. I think he will be fine”.

If Noon becomes the latest player to fall by the wayside, then Robinson would appear to face a straight choice between Bath’s Olly Barkley or Gloucester centre Henry Paul, with Barkley favourite.