Six Nations: England look fated to kick off the Six Nations Championship without their first-choice half-back combination following a shoulder injury to Matt Dawson which looks set to prevent the scrumhalf being considered for their opening game against Italy on February 15th.

With Jonny Wilkinson still unsure when he will fully recover from his own shoulder problems, the England head coach Clive Woodward must now also draw up alternative plans at number nine after yesterday's confirmation that Dawson jarred his left shoulder in a reserve-team game against Leicester on Monday night and will be out for between two and three weeks.

Even if England's most-capped scrumhalf makes a swift recovery he will struggle to make Northampton's Zurich Premiership game against Rotherham on February 7th - his last opportunity to prove form and fitness prior to the announcement of the England team to face the Italians.

The good form of the Gloucester scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall works in Woodward's favour but his outhalf options shrank further yesterday when Sale's Charlie Hodgson was also effectively ruled out for the Italy game.

Although a scan indicated Hodgson had not suffered a recurrence of the knee ligament damage which ended his World Cup hopes, recurring cartilage problems will keep him out for at least a fortnight.

Meanwhile, France lock Jerome Thion will miss the Six Nations with an Achilles tendon injury that required an operation and could rule him out for between four and six months.