LIFE has started to get a bit easier this week and the pain in my back is starting to disappear.

It is fairly minor now and I have just started doing a bit of training. In a few days time, I can do some proper training. It is a question of getting it right and getting back as quickly as I can.

I haven't got a date in mind for when I will be back playing again. I am just going to go on how it feels. That is the best way to do it.

On Saturday, I went to watch England play Wales at Twickenham. It was a seriously intense performance and the lads were pretty pleased afterwards.

Then on Sunday I watched Scotland beat France on the television. That result blows the Six Nations right open and makes it a better tournament.

England will be delighted with the win but they have got to go to Scotland. And I think there is still plenty of life left in France. We will have to be right on top of our game if we are to take the title this year.

Usually, I enjoy watching rugby but when I am injured I find it massively frustrating because I want to be out there on the field.

It's back to the club scene on Saturday with the visit of Sale and I think this game is as important as any we have had all season.

Sale have got a number of players involved in the internationals so, from that point of view, it is a better time to play them. But they have got one of the best squads in terms of strength in depth.

It is a characteristic of sides at the top of the table that they play well regardless of who is on the pitch. For instance, you take out Sebastien Bruno at hooker and replace him with a British Lion in Andy Titterrell.

Sale have taken huge steps forward in recent years. They have always played expansive rugby and are fairly unique.

But Philippe Saint Andre has given them real teeth up front. They have got a pack of forwards that are as good as any.

Sale were my first club and there is always a special place in your heart for your first club. I had a great few years there but it just makes you want to beat them all the more. There's nothing worse than losing to an old club!

The Worcester lads are all really looking forward to it and there's a lot of rugby being played at the moment, so the rest at the weekend will have done them a lot of good.

It was nice to see some of the youngsters involved in the internationals over the weekend. Richard Blaze was in the England team that had a good win over Wales and, in the end, it probably should have been by more.

Homegrown talent is vital and it's good to have players like that involved in those games.