Jonny Wilkinson will not be at Twickenham when England face the All Blacks on Saturday, but he is targeting a return to the international fold for the Six Nations.

Wilkinson admits he hates watching games in which he should be involved, so he will spend time in Newcastle before heading back to club side Toulon to rehabilitate his injured shoulder.

The fly-half's absence leaves Toby Flood in position to make a permanent claim for the No. 10 jersey during the autumn internationals, with Wilkinson confirming he could be out for slightly longer than the initially stated four-week period. Wilkinson only sees his latest setback as a blip in an otherwise impressive season though, and he is already talking of the 2011 Six Nations.

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"I've got problems with my shoulders that need some careful looking after. That is part of the game - although it's massively disappointing that this should hit me now, especially after a really decent run of games," Wilkinson wrote in his column for The Times.

"I expect to be out for a month. It may be a bit longer, not much, and I'm obviously aiming to get back as soon as possible. But this has been a bit of a shock. I've played through last season and then 12 games this season virtually uninterrupted. It's been a long time since I did that.

"I'm thinking now: 'Get fit, then get back to being the best I can be'. But I'll just have to hope to be fit and in contention for the Six Nations."

Wilkinson's intention to 'be the best I can be' is the main reason behind his self-imposed absence from the game. The 2003 World Cup winner confesses he found himself adjusting his game to cope with the injury, which does not sit well with a man defined by his thirst for perfection.

"When it came to it, the decision to withdraw, which was taken by me and the medical staff, was not a hard one. I have found myself faced with compromises that cut to the core of who I am as a player.

"The injury was exacerbated when Toulon played Stade Francais in Paris 12 days ago. I already had issues with both shoulders, but in Paris I took several knocks that made the situation worse. It wasn't one hit, it's an issue that arises from repetitive bashing. Scans have shown that what I need is serious rest and rehabilitation. If I don't have this, it will only get worse.

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The former England rugby captain Steve Borthwick is confident the national side can excel in the upcoming Investec Autumn Internationals this month.

“They are four tough games,” said the Saracens lock. “They will face three of the best teams from the Southern Hemisphere, the Tri-Nations teams, so it’s fierce competition but I think they will do very well.”

Borthwick has not featured in the England elite squad since last season’s Six Nations and was replaced as captain by Lewis Moody after being ruled out with a knee injury. Since he returned to fitness the England head coach Martin Johnson has looked to youth in the shape of Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood in the second row rather than recall the 31-year-old.

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Yet Borthwick remains extremely proud of his time as captain of his country, insisting the steep learning curve experienced during his 20 games leading the team will serve the players well in an important 12 months of international rugby culminating in the World Cup in New Zealand.

“You work desperately hard to be successful so when you have a defeat it’s really disappointing. I think what is important is not to dwell on it but to look at why there was a defeat, why did it happen and work to be a better team.”

Martin Johnson’s outfit will look to build on a promising tour in Australia and New Zealand during the summer after what was a tumultuous start to his management when the blame for defeats fell most heavily on his and Borthwick’s shoulders.

“During that period there was a lot of change with new players and new coaches and it was developing,” he explained.

“We went through some pretty harsh experiences that will make the team stronger for the future. Sometimes you go through tough experiences and you reap the rewards later on.”

England face Tri-Nations champions New Zealand on Saturday and will play Australia, Samoa and South Africa over the next month.

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New Zealand captain Benji Marshall inspired his side to a comprehensive 24-10 win over England in the opening clash of rugby league's Four Nations tournament at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

The home side outscored England four tries to two to set alight the series which also features Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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England scored back-to-back tries midway through the second spell to claw their way into contention at 10-18 before the wizardry of Marshall restored order as he scored in the corner to seal the result.

It capped a memorable night for the New Zealand number six, who set up one other try, kicked four goals, and constantly kept the England defence on edge with his astute kicking.

But rather than drop their heads the Kiwis regrouped immediately and responded with a try to Junior Sa'u in the left corner.

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Marshall missed the conversion but added a penalty goal midway through the half before setting up New Zealand's second try with a break down the right flank which ended with Lance Hohaia scoring by the posts.

New Zealand extended the lead to 18-0 soon after halftime when England fullback Gareth Widdop dropped a Marshall bomb and from the scrum restart Shaun Kenny-Dowall beat five tacklers in a 25-metre run to the line.

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England, ruing a completion rate which hovered around 63 percent, fought their way back into the game when a fast-following James Roby scored after a chip over the line caught the New Zealand defence napping.

Widdop kicked the goal and from the restart scored himself when he finished an 80-metre move in which Michael Shenton and Kevin Brown carved up the New Zealand defence.

But the England roll was soon snuffed out when a piece of Marshall magic ignited a New Zealand attack near the halfway line and he was on hand to end the move with a try in the corner.

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Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named a strong panel for their November internationals after being boosted by a number of high-profile returns this season.

Keith Earls, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien and Donnacha Ryan all return after missing the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, while Leinster lock Devin Toner and Munster utility back Johne Murphy are the only uncapped players named in the squad.

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Leinster winger Luke Fitzgerald and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery could join the national side at a later date if they recover from knocks picked up on Heineken Cup duty last weekend, with Fitzgerald tipped to return to training on Thursday.

Former British & Irish Lions skipper Paul O'Connell and Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin remain absent due to existing injuries. Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary and Leinster lock Leo Cullen could also make an appearance at some stage should they prove their fitness.

Ireland face South Africa on November 6 in the first Test staged at the new Aviva Stadium before facing New Zealand, Argentina and Samoa.

"It is going to be a demanding month for the squad and the first time we have played four games in the series," Kidney said. "We felt it was important to have 30 fit players to choose from in terms of setting the foundations for November and it was better for those who picked up knocks to be assessed back in the provinces and when they have the all clear, to come back into the squad.

"Jerry and Luke are in that position, as are fellas like Tomas and Leo, who may well come back into the mix depending on their recoveries and game time that they may need to build up over the next couple of weeks."

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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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