Walshe aims to shine in wake of Dawson departure

 Biarritz v Bath: Bath's Nick Walshe believes Matt Dawson might have hindered England's scrumhalf planning by not calling time on his Test career three months ago.

Walshe admits Dawson's impending retirement from all rugby will leave England boss Andy Robinson with "a big hole to fill". But the 31-year-old claims Dawson could have helped England's cause through making himself unavailable for the Six Nations Championship this season.

Leicester's Harry Ellis is in possession of England's number nine shirt, yet the pecking order below him is packed with players such as Walshe, Shaun Perry and Peter Richards, who lack international experience after Robinson opted to use Ellis and Dawson during the Six Nations.

Robinson is likely to take two Test scrum-half rookies alongside Ellis on this summer's Australia tour, and Walshe has an outstanding chance of pressing his claims when he lines up for Bath against European Cup semi-final opponents Biarritz in San Sebastian tomorrow (Sky Sports 2, 2.30).

"Obviously, I don't know what went on with the England set-up, but Matt Dawson knew he was going to retire at the end of the season and, maybe, he should have chosen to step down a bit earlier," said Walshe.

"I am not blaming Matt Dawson, but I don't know if he let anyone know that he was stepping down. They could have had someone in to gain experience over the Six Nations, but he kept going and now suddenly he's retired."

Walshe has grasped his chance at Bath after fellow scrumhalf Martyn Wood suffered a season-ending neck injury, and he is arguably the English Premiership's form number nine.

Robinson, therefore, will be an interested observer when Walshe lines up opposite Biarritz and French Grand Slam star Dimitri Yachvili.

"In terms of a club match, it is by far the biggest game I've ever played in," he said.

"I know people will write us off this weekend, say we are underdogs and Biarritz are such a good side, but we don't really mind where we play. We are not writing ourselves off.

"We are in there to test Biarritz and see if they are as good a side as people say. "