Robinson injury worry for England

Jason Robinson is to undergo a knee operation next Tuesday - but England insist he is not in danger of missing the World Cup.

The 32-year-old requires an arthroscopy to clear out "minor debris" from his right knee, which he damaged in England's 58-10 defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein on May 28.

The injury forced Robinson, who was England captain on the ill-fated tour, to miss last Saturday's second Test defeat to the Springboks in Pretoria.

Further investigation indicated Robinson requires the minor operation but it is anticipated he will be fit to take part in England's three World Cup warm-up Tests.

Brian Ashton's men face Wales at Twickenham on August 4 before tackling France home and away.

Despite their optimism, England will be monitoring Robinson's recuperation closely and nervously.

Ashton has to name his final 30-man World Cup squad on August 14, in between the two France Tests, and is already sweating over the fitness of Mike Tindall and Dan Ward-Smith

At present, Robinson is thought to be a guaranteed selection for the World Cup.

That would be unlikely to change even if Robinson misses the three August Tests - providing he is fit for the World Cup - but it would certainly throw a spanner in the works.

Ashton is running out of time to gel a side and he will want Robinson available to play Wales just four weeks after he goes under the knife.

The South Africa tour threw up a few new contenders for the wider England training squad - the likes of hooker Mark Regan in particular - which Ashton will name next Friday.

But it did little to help him formulate the England team as a cohesive unit ahead of their World Cup defence, which makes the August programme all the more important.