Bath fly-half Barkley will line up in the RBS 6 Nations Championship appointment with Wales at Twickenham as replacement for injured goalkicker Paul Grayson.

And Englands coaching think-tank of Woodward, Andy Robinson and Phil Larder immediately got behind the 22-year-old, whose first three caps were all won as a replacement against the USA, then Italy and Ireland this term.

Barkley originally lost his place on the bench when Woodward preferred Mike Catt, but Barkleys superior goalkicking - he is the Premierships top points-scorer this season - gave him a clear advantage to claim calf muscle victim Graysons number 10 jersey.

It is disappointing for Paul, but we are looking forward to seeing Olly Barkley start for England, said Woodward.

Mike Catt does not come into the side because of the goalkicking issue. You must have a recognised goalkicker in international rugby, and Matt Dawson will be Ollys back-up kicker against Wales.

Ollys strike-rate at Bath is very good. Hes in on merit, and you have to take your chances when they come.

He played well when he came on against Italy in Rome, so I have no fears about him. Hes a natural left-footed kicker, which brings a balance, as he has a number of right-footed kickers around him.

Coach Robinson added: The job of our forwards is to ensure Olly gets the ball going forward. He has a very good head, and the goalkicking comes naturally to him.

He had pressure kicks for Bath last season. If hed missed them, then Bath were down and it could have been the end of the club. He had the nerve to do the job.

And defence specialist Larder has no doubt that Barkley, whose goalkicking style bears a striking similarity to Jonny Wilkinsons, will play an effective defensive role if England find under themselves pressure.

When I saw Olly playing for Bath (against Leeds last month), I was disappointed with his defence, but fortunately, so was he, said Larder.

There was a tendency to go high, when he should have gone lower. But it has been worked on - he is a hard worker.