D-day for England flops

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Head coach Brian Ashton is likely to wield the axe - he has little option - following the abject 15-9 Calcutta Cup defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and wing Lesley Vainikolo are among those in the firing line, while Ashton desperately needs Wasps flanker James Haskell to shake off an ankle injury and reclaim his back-row place.

Wilkinson has never previously been dropped during his 69-cap England career that began as a replacement against Ireland 10 years ago.

England face the same opponents at Twickenham next Saturday - but a contrast in circumstances could hardly be greater.

On that occasion, England toppled Ireland 35-17 following a 34-20 success in Edinburgh two weeks earlier, which meant they enjoyed a Triple Crown-winning campaign. But even a top-three finish might prove beyond them in this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Danny Cipriani, who was due to rejoin the England squad at their Bath training base on Monday night after being ditched for Scotland when he was pictured leaving a London nightspot after midnight, or Charlie Hodgson - Wilkinson's second-half replacement at Murrayfield - are leading fly-half alternatives.

The smart money is on 20-year-old Cipriani being given his big chance, despite Ashton's reputation as being something of a conservative selector.

Ashton, frankly, could change at least half the team, and no-one - least of all those players involved three days ago - could complain.

His line-up is due to be announced at lunchtime.