Wilkinson sees a threat from tyro No 10s

On the day he explained his decision to sign a new two-year contract at Newcastle, the 28-year-old also addressed the pressing issue of having so many rival No 10s vying to knock him off his perch during the RBS Six Nations — starting a week tomorrow when Wales visit Twickenham.

Among the increasingly long list of alternative contenders, Danny Cipriani has been championed in many quarters as a rookie capable of usurping Wilkinson.

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Wasps' precocious 20-year-old is seen as the coming man, blessed with an array of attacking gifts. He is also blessed with considerable self-belief, so much so that earlier this week he declared his intention to shortly become his country's first-choice stand off.

It was good, old-fashioned straight talking and Wilkinson saw no harm in it, saying: "I don't see it as arrogance at all. He is an honest chap and it's just a case of him setting his goals. You need to have the attitude 'I don't want to come off second best here'. It is great he has that attitude already — it shows he is getting ready for international rugby."

Asked if he would act as the helpful master to Cipriani's willing apprentice, Wilkinson added: "I don't think Danny needs advice from me. He is learning from his experiences. He is already playing well above his age in terms of his wisdom and that's what you need as a fly half — an old head on a young body."

Yet, while Wilkinson was understandably diplomatic, his Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher had no such scruples. "Jonny is the better player in terms of kicking, tackling and work-rate," he said. "Cipriani is a wonderful talent, but he doesn't have Jonny's experience, maturity or effectiveness yet."

Cipriani is by no means alone in threatening to make Wilkinson work harder than ever just to keep his England place.

Charlie Hodgson is back in the mix after missing the World Cup while Gloucester prodigy Ryan Lamb and Shane Geraghty of London Irish are waiting in the wings. The man in possession of the place they are chasing recognises the wider significance of having so many pedigree performers competing with each other. "It's great for England and the game as a whole," he said. "These guys are consistently doing brilliant things for their clubs.

"But I don't understand the concept that they are gunning for me. It is not my jersey. I played the last game for England, but that's as far as it goes. I hope these guys aren't gunning for anything but their best. That's what England need."

Wilkinson claimed his decision to remain at Newcastle did not reflect a lack of ambition, despite the Falcons' perennial inability to compete with the domestic and European elite. He insisted the club are making progress towards challenging for major honours, but admitted that these days loyalty matters as much as impressive entries on his cv.

"Perhaps earlier in my career I was mistaken in thinking that, when I eventually retire, I will be sat in my room full of memorabilia, giving people a tour of all the cups I've won. But to me now that seems unbelievably false," he said.

England may be blessed with outstanding candidates at fly half, but they could be without their three most experienced loose forwards for the game against Wales after Nick Easter injured a knee in training and was ruled out of Harlequins' trip to Sale.

Easter has not played for Quins since the end of December and Joe Worsley is only in light training after suffering a neck injury, while Lewis Moody is battling a groin problem.

If all three were to be ruled out — with Martin Corry and Lawrence Dallaglio now retired from internationals — England's back row to face Wales could comprise of openside flanker Tom Rees, James Haskell at No 8 and the uncapped Tom Croft.

England World Cup winner Richard Hill is to retire from professional rugby at the end of the season. The Saracens back-row forward won 71 England caps and toured three times with the British and Irish Lions.

Hill will best be remembered as a key figure in the triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign in Australia, where he forged an illustrious back-row unit with Neil Back and Dallaglio.