England chief bemoans short build-up

England boss Andy Robinson has repeated his disappointment at the world champions’ lack of extra preparation time for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Robinson faces an anxious 24 hours before the England squad meet up at their Surrey training base on Sunday night ahead of next weekend’s 6 Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham.

The Guinness Premiership fixture schedule has thrown up two major domestic battles on Saturday, with Leicester hosting leaders Sale Sharks and struggling Bath entertaining Lawrence Dallaglio’s Wasps.

More than two thirds of Robinson’s 36-man 6Nations squad could be involved in those games alone, which contrasts starkly with the autumn internationals build-up when he had a clear fortnight’s run into a Twickenham appointment with Australia.

Attempts for England players to be stood down from Saturday’s Premiership programme have failed.

“I thought the preparation for the autumn was spot-on. We are asking Martin (Corry) and the team to play at their very best, and we want to give them every opportunity to do that,” said Robinson.