Healey: Dawson's time is up

Austin Healey has stoked the fires ahead of the weekend by doubting Matt Dawson's form.

Austin Healey has stoked the fires ahead of Leicester's Powergen Cup semi-final with Wasps, by claiming Matt Dawson is no longer good enough to play for England.

Healey, who is likely to feature for Leicester in Saturday's clash between the two giants of the Premiership, has been capped 55 times by the national side himself, so he knows what it takes to succeed at the top level of the game.

Wasps scrum half Dawson is under pressure from Healey's club colleague Harry Ellis, and both players look likely to go to the 2007 World Cup as England's half back options.

However Healey, who at 32 years of age is Dawson's junior, insists the Wasps man can no longer cut it at the top level, and he has questioned his physical capability to rise to the challenge.

"Dawson shouldn't be in the England squad because his form has not been good enough," the former British and Irish Lion told BBC Sport.

"He is a big-game player, but physically I don't know how he's standing up to it. It is time for young blood to come through into the squad."

Such young blood comes in the form of Gloucester's Peter Richards and Bristol's Shaun Perry, who have been in fine form for their respective clubs this season.

After defeat to Scotland in England's last outing at Murrayfield, head coach Andy Robinson must now decide whether the time has come to use the two remaining Six Nations games (against France and Ireland) to test his more youthful talents.

However, international competition takes a break for now as focus returns to the Powergen Cup, and Healey's comments will ensure a heated atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium come Saturday.