Dawson blow for Saints

Northampton are almost certain to be without their scrum-half Matt Dawson for the Tetley's Bitter Cup semi-final against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on Saturday.

Dawson is suffering from a popped rib and the Saints director of rugby, John Steele, was not optimistic yesterday. "The worst scenario is that Matt Dawson will be out for a month," he said. "The side is not reliant on any one player, but having said that he is a world-class player and it is very difficult to fill his shoes." The promising Dom Malone and James Bramhall have been drafted into the squad.

London Irish, meanwhile, have dropped the former All Black Stephen Bachop, whose place at fly-half has been taken by his fellow New Zealander Jarrod Cunningham, the scorer of 230 points in the Allied Dunbar Premiership this season.

Cunningham's switch from the wing is one of five changes, two of them positional, as the Exiles bid for their first Cup final appearance for 20 years.

Kieran Campbell takes over Cunningham's right-wing spot and the director of rugby, Dick Best, who yesterday revealed he was on the verge of signing a three-year extension to his contract, brings back the hooker Richard Kirke. Rob Gallacher returns at No 8 after Hong Kong Sevens duty and Ryan Strudwick moves up to the second row.

Ewen McKenzie, Australia's most capped prop with 51, has been appointed assistant coach to Rod MacQueen. He replaces Jeff Miller, who has been promoted to a managerial role after helping the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup.

McKenzie, a member of the Wallaby side that won the 1991 World Cup, starts work immediately, helping to prepare the squad for a two-Test series against the 1999 World Cup quarter-finalists Argentina in June.

Twickenham's powerbrokers meet today to discuss the Rob Andrew blueprint for English rugby and rival proposals from the Gloucester owner, Tom Walkinshaw. Fran Cotton, the chairman of Club England, was consulting various parties on Monday and all the signs were that the Andrew proposals would go through on the nod at today's Rugby Football Union management board meeting and then again at Friday's specially-convened council meeting.

It would mean that next season the English season will comprise a 12-team league, there would be a short British Cup at the end of the season and the Six Nations' Championship would retain its present position in the calendar.