Coach Robinson wants full access to England players

Robinson wants the clubs to give up their England stars for the entire autumn Test series and the Six Nations as he prepares for France 2007.

"Everybody has a responsibility to put England first," he said.

"It's vital we get a sensible resolution and give these players the chance to be the best in the world."

Robinson, who has rested a number of key players from this summer's tour to Australia to avoid burn-out ahead of the World Cup, is calling for five weeks' access to players in the autumn and eight weeks during the Six Nations.

The RFU backed me and I believe I am the right man to lead England into the World Cup Andy Robinson

England meet Australia on 11 and 17 June before Tests against Argentina and South Africa (twice) in the autumn.

The Rugby Football Union is also insisting on adding a fourth match - against New Zealand - which is unlikely to go down well with the clubs.

The block-release system favoured by Robinson was in place last November, when England beat Australia and lost narrowly to New Zealand, but not for the Six Nations after talks between the Rugby Football Union and the clubs broke down.

The England players were required to play for their clubs a week before the tournament began and during the two blank weekends.

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And Robinson believes England's fourth-place finish, their worst since the tournament was expanded in 2000, came as a direct result.

"That is because the game in England, the accumulation affect that leads to player burn-out, the pounding these players get, the way the fixtures are structured, it is very difficult for a player to make those differences.

"We have to give players the opportunity to perform at their best - and go from good international players to world-class players - and last year we didn't give them that opportunity because of the way the preparation was handled," he said.

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"Going into that Six Nations period the guys were probably the worst prepared they have ever been in terms of the time they had for England."

The dialogue with the clubs will be taken up by the RFU's new director of elite rugby, who will be appointed to oversee the management of all England sides.

But Robinson does not believe his own position as head coach will be diminished by the new boss - applications for the post closed last Friday with World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward repeatedly linked with the job.

"I think my position will be strengthened and I can't wait for the new director of rugby to be appointed," he said.

"It is one of the positions I have been pushing for. I think it is vital for English rugby.

"And I don't feel undermined because I was being reviewed as well. There was every opportunity for the RFU to look at my performance, say I was the wrong person and make changes.

"The RFU backed me and I believe I am the right man to lead England into the World Cup."