Wilko is out of Irish clash

Struggling England received another body blow today when Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out of the clash with Ireland in Dublin on 27 February, putting the spotlight firmly back on Charlie Hodgson whose miskicks cost his team victory against France yesterday.

Hodgson missed three penalties and a drop goal to reinforce the view that he has a major problem handling the sort of big match pressure that is second nature to Wilkinson, whose drop goal won England the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Wilkinson is battling back from another injury setback and Rob Andrew, his director of rugby at Newcastle, today confirmed that the No10s earliest possible return to Six Nations action will be against Italy at Twickenham on 12 March.

That would give Wilkinson two championship matches in which to prove that he is still the world's best outside-half before coach Sir Clive Woodward names the Lions tour party for New Zealand.

Andrew, who has become a vocal critic of England head coach Andy Robinson, said: "Jonny will not be fit in time for England's game against Ireland but he has a chance of being ready for the matches with Italy and Scotland.

"Charlie and Olly Barkley are proven kickers in the Premiership but there is a lot more pressure at Test level. We have seen Jonny prove he can handle it in his career but he's not ready yet to return. We are monitoring him closely."

Robinson, under pressure after losing three successive matches - two in the Championship - must now decide if he can keep faith with Hodgson, who was today accused of not having the bottle to make critical kicks in big matches by Dave Ellis, the Englishman who is also the French defensive coach. Hodgson's misses meant England slumped to an 18-17 defeat against France.