Six Nations 2010: Jonny Wilkinson under pressure as England call up Charlie Hodgson

By Gavin Mairs Published: 9:48PM GMT twenty-two Feb 2010

In form: Charlie Hodgson (centre) has been in excellent form for Sale this deteriorate and has been called up to England"s Six Nations patrol as cover for Jonny Wilkinson Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Wilkinson did not sight on Monday given of "muscle tightness", a growth that has usually combined serve amour to the discuss about either the Toulon fly-half should keep his place in the side after his sketchy opening in England"s stuttering 17-12 feat over Italy in Rome 9 days ago.

Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson not long ago claimed England"s miss of aggressive aspiration opposite Italy highlighted how Wilkinson was "not gentle with the shortcoming of being the team"s playmaker".

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Johnson, who watched Toby Flood during Leicester"s feat over Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership compare on Saturday, is nonetheless approaching to hang with Wilkinson, fitness permitting, when he names his side to face Ireland at lunchtime on Tuesday.

Yet the inclusion of Hodgson to the squad, who has been one of the form fly-halves in the Guinness Premiership this season, will usually put some-more vigour on Wilkinson to infer he can yield both the care and hint to move the majority appropriate out of a backline who have nonetheless to do their potential.

Outside-centre Mathew Tait, one of the players brought behind by Johnson to yield a some-more slicing corner to the midfield, believes Hodgson would have no difficulty stepping behind on to the general stage, where he has been absent given England"s abominable summer debate of New Zealand in 2008.

"I fool around with Charlie week in, week out and he is one of the majority appropriate distributors and decision-makers in the Premiership," Tait said.

"I am certain if he is given his chance, depending on what is going on, he will take it with both hands. He has been in good form for Sale this deteriorate and has been one of the majority unchanging performers for the bar for years."

Wilkinson is not the usually damage regard for England. Brive centre Jamie Noon, who hasn"t featured for England given last season"s Six Nations compare opposite Italy in Feb 2009, has been called in to the patrol as cover for Dan Hipkiss, who suffered an ankle damage whilst personification for Leicester at the weekend.

Lions flanker Joe Worsley additionally did not sight on Monday carrying played for Wasps on Sunday and will be assessed by England"s healing group on Tuesday. England"s preparations were serve disrupted as the severe continue forced the patrol to sight on a 3G representation thirty mins afar from their precision bottom at Pennyhill Park.

Yet Tait insisted the patrol had still had been means to have a "good session" and had addressed areas, such kicking afar as well most round and a miss of finishing, that had captivated drawn out critique following their opening in Rome.

"There were aspects of the diversion opposite Italy that we were gratified with in conditions of the counterclaim and the line breaks but we have got to finish those chances and opposite Ireland we know those chances are going to be couple of and far between. We have to have certain we are a lot some-more clinical," Tait added.

"That is one of the key areas we are operative on this week. We additionally did maybe flog a small bit as well most opposite Italy and it is up to the boys at the behind and the guys outward them to promulgate so we know when it is on to run.

"All the boys wish to fool around expansive, aggressive rugby but we have got to have certain we do that at the right time and not force things."