Matt Dawson will start the World Cup as England's first-choice scrum-half - whether Kyran Bracken is fit or not.

While Bracken, who has not played in three months, continues his fitness battle, Dawson has already secured England's number nine jersey against Italy and New Zealand next month.

That was the emphatic message from coach Clive Woodward after seeing his team complete their warm-up programme with a 92-17 victory over Tony Diprose's Premiership All Stars at Twickenham on Saturday night.

A long-standing back complaint threatens to wreck Bracken's World Cup hopes and Woodward's contingency plan is already in place through Dawson, with support from the versatile Austin Healey and uncapped Wasps scrum-half Martyn Wood.

Woodward had a massive scare just before half-time last night when Dawson was helped from the field by England doctor Terry Crystal and substitute Mike Catt.

Although Dawson did not return for the second period, the damage was nothing worse than a cut knee that required two stitches.

But the news might not be so encouraging regarding injury-plagued wing David Rees, who made a try-scoring return to England colours during his 20-minute second-half appearance.

Having seen Rees miss the August Tests against the USA and Canada due to an ankle problem, Woodward whisked him off when word reached the coach that a groin complaint might have surfaced.

Lock Tom Bowman wasted little time in living up to his nickname of "Disaster" after being called into Australia's rugby World Cup squad.

A day after arriving at the Wallaby training camp in Queensland, the 23-year-old forward gashed his left shin, requiring 18 stitches.

Bowman suffered the injury when he slipped during a training exercise.