English Premiership: Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher claims Toby Flood "has to be in with a shout" of playing for England in the Six Nations Championship after he won the battle of the outhalves at Kingston Park.
The Falcons' number 10 kicked a 50-metre penalty in the last minute to deny Leicester top spot in the Premiership and boosted his own side's bid to avoid relegation.
England discard Andy Goode kicked 21 points, scoring a try, two conversions and four penalties, but Flood matched him exactly - and landed that massive kick to seal a magnificent Falcons comeback from 26-13 to win 31-29.
Flood has just two caps but Fletcher reckons he is in with a real chance of being in the England number 10 shirt next month.
"Toby has to be in with a shout when it comes to being in the England team or the squad for the Six Nations," said Fletcher.
"Given the other contenders he has to have a real chance and he will be able to handle it - he has two international caps and approaching something like 50 appearances in the Premiership.
England wing Josh Lewsey produced a try-saving tackle in the final minute to deny Premiership basement boys Worcester a shock win at Wasps.
With Wasps leading 19-14 Lewsey, a 70th-minute replacement, tackled Worcester centre Gary Trueman deep in Wasps' territory in the dying seconds as the midlands strugglers looked set to score a last-gasp winning try.
One-time England outhalf Alex King kicked 14 points, while teenager Danny Cipriani scored Wasps' all-important only try to keep the home side in the Premiership title race.
Kai Horstmann scored a first-half try for Worcester, while the boot of Shane Drahm, who scored two penalties and a drop goal, kept them in touch.
Yesterday's two other scheduled game between Bristol and Northampton and London Irish and Saracens were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.
Defending champions Sale Sharks ended a run of three successive league defeats by fighting back from 13 points adrift to beat Edgeley Park visitors Gloucester 20-19 on Saturday.
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