England's Six Nations title challenge has been dealt a double injury setback with the loss of two World Cup winners for their tournament finale against Wales.
Captain Phil Vickery and centre Mike Tindall will miss the Millennium Stadium clash on Saturday.
And England's problems do not end there, with Andy Farrell, who started in midfield for the opening three Six Nations games against Scotland, Italy and Ireland, remaining at his club Saracens this week to undergo further rehabilitation on a lower back problem.
A decision on Jonny Wilkinson's fitness, meanwhile, will be made today after he missed the impressive 26-18 victory over France because of a hamstring strain.
Wilkinson's replacement - his Newcastle colleague Toby Flood - went off midway through the second half at Twickenham suffering from a "dead leg," but England's medical staff say he is making progress and will be available to train later this week.
Elsewhere, stand-in skipper Mike Catt is having treatment on his left hamstring, with the current verdict putting him on course to train during the next few days.
It all adds up to a disappointing start to the week for England head coach Brian Ashton and his squad after hopes of Six Nations silverware were kept alive by ending French Grand Slam hopes.
Tindall, whose second-half try sealed the win, was admitted to a London hospital on Sunday evening with a suspected infection of his left knee. He underwent an arthroscopic wash-out, and will remain in hospital for the next few days.
Ashton said: "It is unfortunate for Mike and England, because I felt he played a key part in our success yesterday. I hope he makes a swift recovery."
Mathew Tait, who made his Test debut as an 18-year-old against Wales in Cardiff two years ago and has not started a Six Nations game since, is favourite to replace Tindall.
Wales, meanwhile, are confident captain Stephen Jones will be available to face England on Saturday. Jones required four stitches above his left eye and suffered vision problems after taking a punch to the head during Wales' 23-20 defeat to Italy.
Azzurri flanker Mauro Bergamasco has been cited for allegedly striking Jones with a swinging arm at a breakdown 28 minutes into the game.
Jones' condition will be monitored through the week but he is set to be included when Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins announces his team today.
If Jones does not make the game, Jenkins would almost certainly look to switch James Hook from inside centre to outhalf.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/IMNWKIX5DFFCFE5CD5NLBU6EVY.png)