Woodward spoilt for choice

Clive Woodward will spend the next week on post-World Cup business in New Zealand as speculation mounts at home as to the identity of Martin Johnson's successor as England captain.

Will Carling, one of Johnson's predecessors, yesterday called for Gloucester prop Phil Vickery to be given the job. But Lawrence Dallaglio, the London Wasps captain, is the bookmakers' favourite, and Saracens flanker Richard Hill is another strong contender.

But England head coach Woodward, who left for New Zealand yesterday, does not look like being rushed into a decision. After attending the International Rugby Board conference for World Cup coaches, he will return next weekend to watch another hectic weekend of European Cup rugby and is expected to name his Six Nations training squad during the last week of January.

Dallaglio has the advantage over the rest of a strong field in that he has been full-time England captain before, but the way he lost the job after a tabloid 'sting' may still count against him. Vickery, who led England to victory in 2002 in Argentina, has a poor injury record while Hill is struggling to recover from a broken nose.

Of the other candidates, Neil Back and Matt Dawson are near the end of their England careers, and Jonny Wilkinson and Ben Kay could benefit from being kept out of the captaincy spotlight for now.

Tributes poured in for Johnson over the weekend. England centre Will Greenwood said: "Johnno has been a great leader and is the ultimate competitor." Pat Sanderson, the chairman of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, added: "He'll be sorely missed, as a player as much as a captain."