Six Nations: Lee Dickson in line to make Italy clash

England scrum-half Lee Dickson could yet participate in Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Italy.

Dickson, a former Scotland Under-19 player, broke a bone in his left hand during the 13-6 Calcutta Cup win and was expected to miss the trip to Rome, but his recovery has been rapid.

“Lee saw a specialist last night and we’re very optimistic of his chances of being available this weekend,” said interim head coach Stuart Lancaster.

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England’s scrum-half options have dwindled with Richard Wigglesworth injured and Danny Care serving a suspension following his arrest for drink driving.

Dickson’s elder brother Karl, Care’s understudy at Harlequins who on Sunday made his first club start since mid-November, was called up as cover.

“Having had a disappointing afternoon with Lee and sent him away feeling sorry for himself, the news later on in the evening was very positive,” added Lancaster. “We’ll review him today and see if he’s fit to train tomorrow. We hope he will be. The specialist is confident that he should be available for the weekend.”

Lancaster has introduced a competitive edge to training that he claims is instrumental in shaping team selection. He insists the make-up of his starting XV will be determined as much by what happens on the practice field as how a player performs on the pitch.

Fringe players hoping to force themselves into contention for Saturday's trip to Rome will be given the chance to stake their claim during a full-blooded session staged today.

“You make training competitive and that’s one of the things I’ve tried to do, certainly over the last two weeks,” said Lancaster. “For example when we do 15 v 15, I’ll try to make it so that the players who are on the fringes or are on the bench get a genuine opportunity to play.

“The session will be competitive, allowing the players to show their skills rather than just give them a bib and tell them to be a defender. It’s when you get that competition and desire for the shirt that you really start to get high performances.

“Everyone has to train well. I place as much importance on how players conduct themselves in training during the week as on what they do at the weekend.

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“I want to create a mindset where people are thinking about being excellent every day because that’s what it takes to keep or gain the shirt.”

England will train at an indoor football academy by the O2 Arena today if the pitch at their Pennyhill base fails to defrost.

Meanwhile, the Rugby Football Union have an announced a four-year extension of their partnership with O2. The agreement continues O2’s presence on senior England, Saxons and women’s team kit.