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Wilkinson suffers new injury scare

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LONDON, England -- Jonny Wilkinson has suffered a new injury scare that makes him doubtful for England's crunch Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham on March 11.

Wilkinson, who has suffered a string of injury setbacks since helping England to World Cup success in 2003, limped out of his club Newcastle's 38-12 defeat at London Irish on Saturday.

The fly half went off with a tight hamstring which could prevent him from joining up with the England squad next week.

A similar injury left him a doubt for England's heavy defeat to Ireland at Croke Park last week.

Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher said Wilkinson had been suffering from cramp.

"Whether the cramp was anything else we will have to see, but he's icing it as obviously you would. It's too early to say, he's got cramp in his hamstring, so we took him off.

"Basically all you can do with that sort of acute injury is ice it, there's nothing else you can do for 24 to 48 hours."

If Wilkinson is ruled out, England coach Brian Ashton could be tempted to call up London Irish's Shane Geraghty, who provided 23 of his side's points in Saturday's win, including two second-half tries.

Geraghty, 20, was was included in an England training squad last month but was demoted after Wilkinson was declared fit to return to the fold.

"Shane Geraghty has put his hand up at the right time," said London Irish chief Brian Smith.

"He's one of the best in the country. Maybe he needs a bit of experience and game management but he's put down a bit of a marker with that performance."

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