Italian date too soon for Wilkinson

News: England coach Clive Woodward yesterday revealed that Jonny Wilkinson was almost certain to miss the opening of the 2004 Six Nations championship.

The world champions begin their Grand Slam defence against Italy in Rome on February 15th, but the match has come too early for outhalf Wilkinson who has a neck and shoulder problem.

Wilkinson revealed on Sunday his recovery was based on a day-to-day approach and refused to set any date for his comeback after playing just 58 minutes for his club Newcastle since booting England to glory in Australia. But Woodward yesterday effectively ruled his prized asset out of contention for the Italy clash at the Stadio Flaminio.

"There has been no great improvement in Jonny since yesterday, so you can take it as read that he won't be playing next weekend. I was 99 per cent sure of that yesterday and today I'm 99.9 per cent sure," he said.

Wilkinson's World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson has been surprisingly named as the new skipper of Leicester. Johnson, who retired from international rugby last month, relinquished the captaincy at the end of last season, giving England colleague Neil Back the position.

But just two months into his reign, Back has asked Johnson to resume his role as captain in the wake of coach Dean Richards' departure on Monday. Back has given up the captaincy after being named as temporary assistant coach.

Leicester named four senior figures at the club as part of a caretaker management team but yesterday announced more details on that set-up. Forwards coach John Wells is temporary head coach, with Back his assistant. Johnson is also a member of the temporary management team.

Connacht have made seven changes to the side which defeated Narbonne in the Challenge Cup quarter-final for Saturday's Celtic League clash with Celtic Warriors at Bridgend (5.30 p.m.).

Three of the changes are in the back line, with a new partnership at halfback as David Hewitt and Chris Keane come back into the side. Ted Robinson comes in on the wing in a reshuffle which sees Matt Mostyn go to full back and Mark McHugh start at inside centre.

Up front, Warren O'Kelly starts at loosehead, John Fogarty at hooker, Mike McCarthy in the second row and Matt Lacey at number eight.

CONNACHT (v Celtic Warriors): M Mostyn; T Robinson, D Yapp, M McHugh, C McPhillips; D Hewitt, C Keane; W O'Kelly, J Fogarty, A Clarke; M McCarthy, A Farley; M Swift, P Neville, M Lacey. Replacements: B Jackman, P Bracken, D Browne, J O'Sullivan, C O'Loughlin, E Elwood, T Allnutt.

The Leinster Schools Senior Cup tie between St Michael's College and Clongowes Wood, which was postponed yesterday, has been rescheduled for today (2.30 p.m.) at Donnybrook.