Woodward missing vital props

Clive Woodward faces a front-row crisis as he prepares to name his squad for the Test tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Jason Leonard has retired and Gloucester's Phil Vickery (back surgery) and Sale's Andrew Sheridan (broken jaw) are out. Woodward cannot count on Bath pair David Flatman (Achilles) and Matt Stevens (knee infection) while Duncan Bell, the third Bath prop, has fitness worries ahead of Saturday's Gloucester clash. Northampton's Robbie Morris is not ready for a recall.

Woodward has just two England props, Gloucester's Trevor Woodman and Leicester's Julian White, fit going into the final weekend of the regular league season.

White was earmarked at tight-head as England intend to make forward strength their focal point. However, he has a poor injury record and an even worse disciplinary record.

His omission would mean putting Stevens in and leave Woodman as senior pro but the Gloucester loose-head has had some poor reviews in recent weeks.

If he is overlooked, Woodward will consider Flatman, Quins out-of-form Mike Worsely or Leicester veteran Graham Rowntree.