Hodgson injury adds to coach's concerns

Ordinarily, Clive Woodward is more guarded in his post-match comments, preferring in general to look no further than the next game, but yesterday he broke with professional sport's tradition.

"The biggest thing is winning," he said after England's 40-5 victory over Italy. "I expect us to win our next two games regardless of who is playing." At first it sounded like confidence, even, dare one suggest it, bordering on arrogance. But since the England head coach had already said he would reserve judgement on the game until he had studied the video of the match closely, his comment could be interpreted to mean that he may well consider some serious personnel changes.

Four players will definitely be in the frame for the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham in a fortnight, when England will need to stretch their winning run at headquarters to 21 in order to stay on course for the Grand Slam match in Dublin at the end of the month.

"I was pleased with Josh Lewsey and Mike Tindall, they showed a few fantastic touches and the two guys making their debuts, Ollie Smith and Mike Worsley," Woodward said. "We scored some fantastic tries and the positives are there."

But Woodward, understandably impressed with the opening 21 minutes in which England opened a 33-0 advantage, said that he would take a little longer before trying to work out what went wrong after that.

There are also a couple of injury worries. The stand-in captain, Jonny Wilkinson, went off early in the second half clutching one of his troublesome shoulders, the right one this time. "It wasn't really one tackle, it was more a cumulative thing," explained the peerless fly-half, who looked in pain after taking out the big Italian blindside flanker, Andrea de Rossi. "That tackle was what gave me the trauma, but earlier ones had started it all, however I expect to be fit for next week."

Unfortunately Charlie Hodgson, his replacement at outside-half, lasted barely five minutes before he too left the fray, nursing an injury to his left knee. "I think Charlie's knee injury is quite serious," he said.

His presentiment was right. Early medical reports last night suggested that Hodgson had sustained suspected significant ligament damage and he would be having an MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis and see a knee specialist in the next 48 hours. Confirmation would probably mean the end of the Sale fly-half's season.

Woodward is likely to view with some concern the abrupt end to England's try-fest and especial note will be taken of the set piece and the high amount of turnover ball.

Woodward's counterpart, the former New Zealand wing John Kirwan, has an easier task. "Today was a huge step forward for us. That was a glimpse of the style of football we are trying to play, but we have to keep building each week," he said. "We had a goal today and that was to come off the field with our heads held high and we did that. I am proud of them. They played with heart and pride. I think for the first 20 minutes it was a question of nerves. In front of 72,500 people we allowed ourselves to be a bit overwhelmed."

So were England at times during that last hour.