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The 30 year-old last played for Scotland in the 2009 Six Nations Championship, but ruled himself of last year's autumn internationals. As Taylor put no time limit on his self-imposed exile from the squad, Robinson considers that he is still unavailable for selection, explaining that it is up to the former Edinburgh loose forward to make the first move.

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Robinson was speaking at the Scotland training camp in St Andrews, a gathering diminished by the fact that a number of top players have been unable to take part due injury. Among the most serious, locks Nathan Hines and Al Kellock and backs Graeme Morrison and Jim Thompson are all recovering from knee surgery, while wing Simon Daniellli is getting over a shoulder operation.

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"There has been no contact with Simon, but if I'm at a Bath game then I'll see him," Robinson said. "Simon is enjoying his rugby, but it's not down to me whether he plays international rugby again; it's down to him. If a player puts himself forward to play then he's up for consideration."

Robinson said:"Injuries are part of playing rugby and you've just got to be able to deal with it. A number of players haven't recovered from Argentina and there are also bumps and bruises from last season. It's a slow process, but it's better to be cautious rather than try to force things."

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"There are a number of very good leaders in the squad," said the coach. "We'll see who's fit at the start of November and we'll make the choice accordingly."

In Argentina, Kellock took over the captaincy from Cusiter for the victories over the Pumas in Tucuman and Mar del Plata. Even if Cusiter were to stage a quick recovery over the next few weeks, it is by no means certain that he would resume the leadership role, given the success his Glasgow team-mate made of the job. However, Robinson explained that he had no particular worries on that front at the moment.

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Tournament hosts England began their bid for World Cup glory with a 27-0 win over a spirited but limited Ireland side at the Surrey Sports Club in Guildford on Friday.

England were on the front foot from the off and they pierced an impressively organised and resolute Irish defence on nine minutes when Fiona Pocock blazed over in the left corner. Ireland responded admirably to the concession of that early score and had the better of the remainder of the half, both in terms of possession and territory. However, they repeatedly squandered decent opportunities to trouble the scoreboard, most unforgivably when Niamh Briggs missed a kickable penalty on the half hour.

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England punished Ireland's profligacy just before the break when a barnstorming run right up the middle of the field from Maggie Alphonsi eventually led to Katherine Merchant being left with a simple finish out wide.

That score settled the hosts and they were far more composed in the second period. Amy Turner effectively put the game beyond the Irish when she darted over from close range after cleverly taking a quick tap and player of the match Alphonsi secured the precious bonus point by crashing over the line with just over a minute of normal time remaining.

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Ireland V England Hospitality

ENGLAND team manager Martin Johnson has left the door open for Cumbrian Steve Borthwick to return as England captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Carlisle-born lock was last month axed from the senior 32-man squad after a knee injury forced him to miss the summer tour of Australia.

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Lewis Moody took over as captain and became only the second man, after Johnson, to lead England to a Test match victory over the Wallabies on Australian soil.

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Having captained England in Johnson’s first 20 matches in charge, Borthwick was dropped and slipped so far out of favour that he was no longer considered one of his best four locks.

The Saracens captain, from Belle Vue, Carlisle, had to make do with a place in the second-string Saxons squad, but now Johnson could be set to offer him a way back into favour.

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Johnson said: “We had the conversation and Steve instantly said: ‘I’ll prove you wrong’. That is exactly what you want. He hasn’t whined about it, he hasn’t moaned about it.

“It is very competitive. The great thing about this camp is we have got the senior 32, which was a tough call, but also the guys who did not make it have all come back.

“There is big pressure on guys. Anyone who thinks they are comfortable in the England 32 won’t be there for very long. Guys are wondering how they are going to get in. It is very competitive and the best squad we have ever had.”

In the space of three Tests, Borthwick also sidelined for the defeat to France in the RBS 6 Nations – slipped from being England’s captain to outside the top four second-row options.

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Gloucester lock Dave Attwood took his chance with some impressive performances on the England tour, while Courtney Lawes and Tom Palmer both excelled in the Test victory in Sydney.

But Johnson added: “I said to the guys we are treating the whole group as a squad. It is not Saxons and seniors.

“If you are playing better than the number one guy then there is never a time when you haven’t found yourself in the England team. Steve knows that and he is keen to get cracking.”

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ULSTER have been rocked by another preseason injury blow in the space of the week as the countdown to the new season gathers momentum.

New South African signing, Ruan Pienaar, has suffered an AC join injury while playing for Natal Sharks in the latest series of Currie Cup matches.

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The 26-year-old Springbok international scrumhalf could be out for up to six weeks and that would mean a delay in his debut for the Irish province.

Only last week, Ulster got confirmation that the Sharks would release Pienaar for September 1 - although it was agreed that if he was selected for the South African's final Tri Nations series match against New Zealand, he would be released.

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That would already have meant him missing the opening game of the season at Ravenhill, if selected, against defending Magners League champions, Ospreys.

However, the injury could see the exciting halfback not make his first appearance for Ulster until late September or early October.

Ulster were rocked last week with a 12- week injury blow to Irish international winger, Andrew Trimble.

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Trimble return to training with the Province having suffered a finger injury while touring with Ireland in the summer series down under against New Zealand and Australia.

However, having been released by Ireland, it was the Ulster medical team who discovered the injury was more serious than initially thought and Trimble underwent surgery last week and is not expected to return for at least 10 weeks.

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