Tindall to turn up trumps for England

Mike Tindall looks certain to be rushed back into a shell-shocked England team for the visit of Wales in two weeks' time.

Saturday's loss against Ireland ended any hopes of a second successive Grand Slam and ensured that coach Clive Woodward will now make wholesale changes.

While England were falling 19-13 to end a 22-game unbeaten home record, Tindall was losing 26-22 in England A colours against France A in Perpignan. Despite that result and his lack of match practice the Bath centre has to return to provide balance and power to an England back division that will face serious problems against Wales.

Woodward may also look to return Jason Robinson to full-back, replace the misfiring Steve Thompson with Mark Regan at hooker, ensure that Danny Grewcock is fit to take over at lock and recall Chris Jones at flanker. Bath full-back Iain Balshaw looks vulnerable because Robinson's attacking skills require an ability to hit the line from greater depth, Thompson is now so shattered by his line-out throwing horror that he needs a break, Grewcock's physique is needed to shore up the line-out and clear bodies from rucks and mauls while Jones adds an important extra line-out option.

Should Woodward take those options it will leave Joe Worsley, the London Wasps flanker, feeling unlucky. Worsley grafted hard during his time on the pitch but Jones has a ball-winning capability that the Wasps player cannot match at the line-out. And this is where games are being won and lost in this Six Nations Championship.

Worsley felt the defeat as keenly as anyone and said: "I just pray I will be picked for the Wales game and get the chance to make up for it."

The ball is in Woodward's court.