PHIL BENNETT'S COLUMN: We must cash in on wind of change

ENGLAND may be World Champions - but Wales should know the men in white will be at their most vulnerable for years when the Six Nations kicks off next month.

It may seem strange to talk about signs of weakness after Sir Clive Woodward and his troops came back from Australia with the most precious piece of silverware in the game.

But professional sport does not stand still for long and I think the possibility of real change is blowing in the breeze.

Martin Johnson has gone, and to be quite frank, that changes everything. England have relied upon Johnson for leadership, strength and authority during the Woodward era and their skipper has been a shining beacon.

Without him, there is the possibility that Wales and the other countries in the tournament can sentence England for a spell in the darkness.

It's not just the absence of Johnson - massive enough on its own - that will level the playing field this season.

Everywhere you look through this England team, there are signs of potential fatigue and weariness.

I'm not suggesting England are a spent force by any means, but this particular championship will be an extremely testing one for Sir Clive.

Johnson has gone, and Jonny Wilkinson is still struggling with a shoulder injury that is proving a problem.

That pair are just about the most influential players in world rugby at present.

But the headaches don't stop there for England.

Mike Catt is not playing for Bath at present and Mike Tindle is also out crocked.

The same goes for Richard Hill and Phil Vickery as well as Matt Dawson.

Even the regular and reliable back-up troops like Martin Cory are on the casualty list.

Throw in the fact that a number of other players are pushing well into their 30s - such as Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio - and suddenly England's vulnerabilities are all too apparent.

Instead of being far too respectful, as they have been in the past, Wales must now seize the opportunity to make the most of England's problems.

The time has come for Welsh forwards like Robert Sidoli and Brent Cockbain to realise that Johnson has gone and a vacuum has been created. Both Welsh second rows should be desperate to get on the field at Twickenham in March and make the most of the opportunity this situation has created.

King Johnno is dead - long live a new Welsh king of the jungle.

Of course, England still have a lot going for them, including the most astute coaching brains in the game at present.

I am sure Woodward and his assistants will have already plotted a route which they feel can overcome the obstacles which lie before them.

Woodward is desperate for another English Grand Slam - not least to confirm his status as the outstanding candidate for the Lions job next year.

There are also some good, young English players waiting in the wings as we saw in Cardiff before the World Cup.

On that day a second-string English side proved just how strong was the depth of talent across the border.

Guys like James Simpson-Daniel, Ollie Smith and Joe Worsley are all busting a gut for their chance to prove their worth.

More senior players like Ben Kay will also be anxious to step into the shoes of the elder statesman who has stepped aside.

But I know from talking to my old pal Fran Cotton that he and others are worried about the next generation.

Their fear is that too many good, young English players have not been given enough opportunities at club level because of the glut of foreign players in the Zurich Premiership.

In Wales, the number of overseas players appears to be declining as the new regions take a more realistic view of their finances.

The challenge now for all the Welsh players is to rise to the occasion.

The Six Nations is a massive platform and what would be better than to shine by beating England this season in their own backyard?

Wales were the better team for 40 minutes in October's World Cup quarter-final.

It was only when the likes of Catt took charge that the match tilted in England's favour.

Perhaps it came down to the levels of experience which not only took England past Wales, but through to the final itself.

Johnson, Dallaglio, Hill and the rest conquered the world because they were familiar with the journey.

But if their journey is now at an end, it is time for others to take the Six Nations off in a different direction.

France will fancy their chances and it is up to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and even Italy to give it a real crack.

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