Charlie Hodgson and Lewis Moody were tonight ruled out of England's Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship showdown with France in Paris.

Both players picked up injuries during Premiership games over the weekend, leaving England boss Clive Woodward with two vacancies on his substitutes bench.

Sale fly-half Hodgson is suffering from an ankle problem, while Leicester flanker Moody collected what Tigers rugby director Dean Richards termed "a badly broken nose" after colliding with team-mate Dorian West as the Premiership leaders beat Northampton.

Moody's Leicester colleague, the experienced Martin Corry, would be an obvious bench alternative but the Hodgson situation does not seem as clear-cut.

The 21-year-old, capped three times this season, provided cover for Jonny Wilkinson in the Six Nations victories over Scotland and Ireland.

Mike Catt would undoubtedly be next in line, but he is sidelined, pending surgery on a torn shoulder tendon.

Wing Austin Healey could offer a number 10 alternative if Wilkinson was injured at Stade de France.

Healey has played fly-half for Leicester, and started there when Wilkinson withdrew through illness from England's starting line-up against South Africa in Pretoria some 20 months ago.

Woodward though, is keen to exploit Healey's running skills out wide, and whomever takes over from Hodgson would probably have to also provide a back-up goalkicking service behind the prolific Wilkinson.

Wilkinson's Newcastle colleague Dave Walder, who toured North America with England last summer, is currently battling hamstring trouble, so that could turn the spotlight on England A men Henry Paul and Andy Goode.

Both players are uncapped, Paul having joined Gloucester in a high-profile code switch from Bradford Bulls earlier this season, while Goode has been Leicester's first-choice kicker with Tim Stimpson out injured.

But experience will be a crucial factor for such a big game, which might just mean a match-day recall for England's most capped full-back Matt Perry, who can also play fly-half and kick goals.