Borthwick Knee Injury Leaves Him Doubtful for Bath and England

As if the England head coach, Brian Ashton, has not had enough injury concerns in the past month, his captain in Rome last Sunday, the Bath second-row Steve Borthwick, is struggling with a knee problem and may miss the Premiership clash with Wasps on Saturday.

Borthwick, who led England against Italy after Phil Vickery withdrew on the morning of the game because of illness, suffered the injury against the Azzurri and has had tests on his knee this week. He gave a match-winning display in Rome and Ashton needs him for next week's match with France in Paris.

"Steve is a doubt for Saturday," said Bath's head coach, Steve Meehan. "I will not play him against Wasps unless he is 100% fit and am sure he would be able to last the whole match. He took a knock against Italy and had a scan on his return. He is going through things with the medical team and the physiotherapists and we should know more later in the week.

"Steve is experienced and honest enough to say if he is not right. I do not believe in playing someone if he is carrying an injury, never mind that Saturday is an important game for us."

The Gloucester center Mike Tindall will see a specialist at the end of the month to find out when he will be able to play again, after damaging his liver during England's defeat to Wales. "I did not nearly die, as some reports would have you believe, but I lost a fair amount of blood and, if the bleeding had not stopped, the surgeons would have had to operate to repair the tear in the liver," said the 29-year-old.

"I will not be able to train for the next three weeks and I do not know yet when I will be able to take the field again."

Marc Lièvremont, the France coach, yesterday made three changes to his squad for the England game. The Toulouse full-back Clément Poitrenaud returns along with the second-row Pascal Pape, and the Toulouse second-row Romain Millo-Chluski was also called up, three years after winning his only cap against South Africa.

Italy's David Bortolussi fractured a shoulder in training on Monday and will miss the rest of the Six Nations.

France squad Parra, Elissalde, Trinh-Duc, Skrela, Traille, Marty, Clerc, Rougerie, Heymans, Poitrenaud, Brugnaut, Faure, Mas, Szarzewski, Servat, Millo-Chulsky, Pape, Nallet, Bonnaire, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Picamoles.

Italy squad Mirco Bergamasco, Canale, Canavosio, Masi, Robertson, Galon, Marcato, Picone, Sgarbi, Mauro Bergamasco, Castrogiovanni, Del Fava, Dellape, Festuccia, Ghiraldini, Lo Cicero, Parisse, Perugini, Sole, Zanni, Bortolami, Nieto, Travagli.