Wilko in the clear to face France

13 April 2012

Jonny Wilkinson will be ready for Six Nations duty against France on Saturday despite being taken off in the closing stages of Newcastle's 42-35 victory over London Irish yesterday.

The England fly half sustained a heavy blow to the neck and there were fears that his injury might rule him out of Saturday's Twickenham showdown with concussion.

But Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew said: 'Johnny will join England tonight, although last time this happened to him he wasn't able to train until the Tuesday or Wednesday before the match.

'It's a problem he has had for two or three years. It is something to do with his spinal column being very narrow. When he gets a really big hit on his neck or shoulder, the shoulder muscles go into spasm. It looks pretty bad but it clears up after 48 hours.'

Wilkinson converted all six of Newcastle's tries, one of which he scored himself, in a frenetic match which saw London Irish haul themselves back from 42-17 to be in with a chance of pinching a draw.

Wilkinson swept through for Newcastle's first try after three minutes and Michael Stephenson galloped over in the corner after a break by Tom May. Four penalties from Barry Everitt kept Irish in touch despite a Hugh Vyvyan try but the game seemed over when David Walder shot through from a superb double dummy scissors move and Ross Nesdale was driven over from the line-out.

However, Ofisa Tonu'u scored in the corner and the visitors clawed the deficit back to seven points when Paul Sackey was awarded a try which looked as if it lacked enough downward pressure. Newcastle kept their cool when they lost Wilkinson and Walder controlled the closing minutes with fine tactical kicking as the Falcons made sure of a place in the Premiership play-offs.

England prop Phil Vickery, who will miss the France game with a neck injury, is confident of being fit for Gloucester's Heineken Cup semi-final tie against Leicester in three weeks.

Vickery, who watched from the stands as Gloucester beat the Tigers 22-13 at Kingsholm to earn a play-off berth, said: 'I will definitely be there for the semis. I have no doubts at all. It is just a case of getting the strength back.'

Leicester, even without a clutch of their first-choice players, could have won yesterday's match. Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Dorian West, Darren Garforth, Graham Rowntree and Andy Goode were all rested, while Austin Healey, Tim Stimpson and Ben Kay were on the bench. But Gloucester's former England scrum half Andy Gomersall ran the show, scoring a try and kicking four penalties.

England hooker Phil Greening received a public warning from his club director of rugby after being sinbinned for the second consecutive game as Wasps beat Rotherham 58-3.

Nigel Melville said: 'It would help if he didn't get on the wrong side of referees. Sometimes his enthusiasm goes against him.'

Scotland wing Kenny Logan scored a hat-trick of tries, five conversions and a penalty for Wasps.

Leeds almost certainly guaranteed their place in the Premiership next season after a 30-13 top-of-the-table victory over Worcester at Headingley.

Swansea coach John Plumtree remains confident his side will lift the Welsh-Scottish League trophy despite a 21-14 defeat at Cardiff.

Neil Jenkins kicked 11 points as Cardiff drew level on points with their biggest rivals but Plumtree said: 'The title is back in the melting-pot but we have a game in hand. With our advantage on try count, we would have to drop two more games to lose the title.'

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Wilko in the clear to face France

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