Six Nations 2002 - England profiles

DAN LUGER

JONNY WILKINSON
fly half
Wilkinson has established himself as one of the world's best outsidehalves and he's still only 22. Skilful, intelligent and focused to the nthdegree, he's already up there with the great place kickers - 458points in just 30 internationals and a Six Nations record of 89 lastseason. Has the eye and pace for a break and tackles opponents like apocket battleship. Under his mentor, Rob Andrew at Newcastle, Wilkinson isshowing signs, with that little bit more experience, of becoming the mastertactician. Made the Aussies pay for spoiling his first Lions tour with allEngland's 21 points and a big game against the world champions in theautumn victory.

AUSTIN HEALEY
jack of all trades
Love him or loathe, the 'Leicester Lip' makes things happen on the pitch -and off it, usually by opening his mouth. But there can be no argument thathe is an outstanding skilful, quick and agile talent who loves to surpriseby doing the unexpected. A genuine game-breaker. His ability to play in anyposition in the backs has probably cost him in terms of internationalstarts since coaches love him as cover or bring him on as an impact player.With Matt Dawson out of sorts, specialist Kyran Bracken gets the nod atScrum-half but Healey fully justifies his start on the wing.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO
back row
This destructive ball-carrying No 8 may have played 47 times for Englandbut, for Clive Woodward, it will like having a new player at his disposal.A bad knee injury cost the Wasps giant a Lions tour, the second half of theSix Nations and the chance to be in the teams that put one over theWallabies and Springboks. So he will be champing at the bit after sevenmonths out of rugby. He's come back even bigger at 18 stone so hopefullycan restore the 'go-forward' factor so badly missing when England weredenied the Grand Slam in Dublin.

JASON ROBINSON
wing/full back/centre
Laying a quick claim to being one of the outstanding rugby footballers inthe world, even if he admits he's still learning the union game.Fortunately, the former Wigan rugby league star has been drafted into awinning team. Billy Whizz returned from the Lions tour as top try scorerand was successfully switched from wing to full back for the major autumnwins against Australia and South Africa. His ability to beat the first andoften second tackles on the counter-attack mark him out as very special inthis defence-orientated era. One opponent suggested the elusive Robinsoncould beat you in a phone box!

STEVE THOMPSON
hooker
England have been short of a world class hooker. Blinded by the priority tohave side-stepping, ball-juggling footballers in every position, England No2s have almost forgotten the basic art of throwing in. Losing line-outsare costly tactically and psychologically. Northampton's Thompson seems tofind his team-mates but the 23-year-old also possesses the dynamism and paceof a back row man. Injuries to unpredictable Phil Greening and veteranDorian West could open the door for Thompson to take his outstanding clubform under new coach Wayne Smith into the Test arena.