ENGLAND last night summoned Iain Balshaw from the international wilderness for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy - almost a year to the day after his last Test match appearance. The Leeds full-back replaces skipper Jason Robinson, who underwent a thumb operation last week and faces a month on the sidelines. Balshaw, 25, has not played international rugby since March 6 last year when England lost to Ireland at Twickenham. But he now gains a chance in an otherwise unchanged England line-up, and will look to put a catalogue of injury setbacks behind him, problems that have contributed towards him winning just 22 caps in five years. "I had a few injuries when I came to Leeds, and I just wanted to get over them," said Balshaw.. "I have been working very hard on just getting back and playing consistently, and I have been doing all right recently." England head coach Andy Robinson could conceivably have switched wing Josh Lewsey to full-back, and called up contenders such as James Simpson-Daniel or Ollie Smith, but Balshaw received the nod. Balshaw, a 2001 British and Irish Lion in Australia, joined Leeds from Bath last summer, and captained the Tykes during yesterday's Powergen Cup semi-final victory over London Irish. The Lancastrian now returns to an England side reeling from losing its first three champion-ship games for the first time since 1987, while Italy have also suffered three successive defeats, giving Saturday's clash a distinct wooden spoon flavour. Robinson though, said he had "little hesitation" in,, the absence of his injured namesake apart, retaining the side beaten narrowly by Grand Slam-chasing Ireland at Lansdowne Road eight days ago. It will be captained by Leicester number eight Martin Corry. England, beaten nine times from the last 12 starts, continue to be without injured World Cup stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood, Phil Vickery, Julian White and Richard Hill. Off the field, Robinson will not face disciplinary action after he criticised South African referee Jonathan Kaplan following last month's Six Nations clash against Ireland. Robinson was incensed Kaplan disallowed a "try" by England wing Mark Cueto, and did not consult the video referee over a late incident when Josh Lewsey appeared to have been driven over Ireland's line. The coach could have been hit with a Rugby Football Union disrepute charge, but RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett has decided Robinson should be reminded "to avoid making critical comments of match officials during press conferences and interviews." The England coach was probed over comments he made to a national newspaper, which included the remark "I think only one side was refereed." Blackett ruled that although Robinson was technically in breach of IRB Regulation 20.1.5, it was "at the very bottom end of the scale." The IRB regulation states that unions, associations, rugby bodies, clubs and persons "shall not publish, or cause to be published, criticism if the manner in which a referee or touch judge handled a match." Blackett said: "The article in the Daily Mail mainly related to comments made by Colin High (RFU elite referee manager), and there is only one short critical comment made by Andy Robinson. This action is consistent with standards applied domestically - disciplinary action is only taken against Zurich Premiership directors (of rugby) where criticism is overt and specific." High, though, received stiffer punishment for criticising Kaplan. Blackett has recommended that High, a former Test match referee, should be formally warned about his future conduct, confirmed his provisional IRB suspension from officiating as an international referee assessor, and that he make a £1,000 donation to the IRB's Tsunami appeal. | 
