By Jonathon Moore Rugby union editor

For a team able to replace the retired Martin Johnson with such spectacular ease, Kyran Bracken's decision to hang up his international boots does not at first seem problematic.

Bracken has experienced more pain than most in his career

Bracken's career has been plagued by injury, and while no-one can question his commitment to the England cause, his recent lapse in form has seen him slip down the pecking order behind rivals Matt Dawson and Andy Gomarsall.

It was not always that way.

New fans of Sir Clive Woodward's side may be surprised to learn that after Dawson, Bracken remains England's most capped scrum-half, with 51 international appearances.

He arrived on the scene with a spectacular bang against the All Blacks at Twickenham some 11 years ago, inspiring the home side to a famous 15-9 victory.

His boyish good looks and mop of curly hair made him as much of a draw on the front-pages as the back and he was instantly hailed as one of a new breed of professionals.

Expectations were high.

Sadly, the bang was as much literal as metaphorical and his debut is also remembered by the Saracens stalwart as the beginning of his injury nightmare.

BRACKEN FACT FILE Caps: 51 Debut: v NZ 21/10/93 Last Test: v France 16/10/03 Test points: 15 Report: Bracken quits Test rugby

During the game All Black flanker Jamie Joseph brutally stamped on his ankle, leaving him with a permanent weakness he has struggled to overcome.

The problem and its unerring ability to strike at the most inopportune of times, resulted in him missing out on both the 1995 and 1999 World Cups.

But injuries can cut both ways, and having served as understudy through England's Grand Slam season of 2003, he was reinstated as first choice when Dawson pulled out of the New Zealand Test in June with a thigh strain.

One week later, with Dawson back to full fitness, Bracken retained his place against Australia in Melbourne to help secure a dramatic double whammy over England's southern hemisphere rivals.

Their battle for the England number nine jersey has lasted over a decade but it was the Northampton man who gained Woodward's trust during the World Cup-winning campaign down under.

Bracken clears for touch on his debut against the All Blacks

Bracken started only one match - against South Africa - and since returning has found himself surplus to requirements with Gomarsall being preferred to spearhead England's Six Nations defence.

At club level too, Bracken is struggling, even finding himself relegated to the bench behind Canadian Morgan Williams at below-par Saracens.

With that in mind, his decision to retire from England duty is unsurprising, but it does highlight a looming problem facing Woodward, should the 31-year-old Dawson opt to follow suit any time soon.

The newly knighted coach has professed himself unimpressed with England's reserves at scrum-half.

Selecting his 2004 Six Nations squad, Woodward chose to overlook youngsters such as Leicester's Harry Ellis and Bath's Martyn Wood.

And Dawson himself has admitted that England need to unearth some new faces in the position.

"It's a crucial role and very soon we'll be crying out for new faces," he told BBC Sport.

"At the moment I could only mention one or two names who are up there."

No-one knows just what else Bracken may have achieved had Joseph's boot never made contact in that fateful game.

But England's future incumbents at scrum-half will do well to equal his ability to overcome adversity - and Dawson and Gomarsall will certainly sleep a little easier over the coming months.