Injuries add to England woes after defeat

BLOEMFONTEIN – Injuries to flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson and to two other players piled on the agony for England following a record defeat by South Africa in Bloemfontein in Saturday.

Wilkinson suffered a back spasm in the 70th minute as he attempted to stop flanker Schalk Burger scoring one of the Springboks’ seven tries in a 58-10 rout of the much-weakened world champions. “We’re hoping it’s just a soft tissue injury,” England coach Brian Ashton told reporters.Wing Iain Balshaw was taken to hospital for a scan on a shin injury and back rower Andy Hazell did not reappear after halftime because of a ligament injury.England had already lost four players from their selected starting line-up due to injury and gastroenteritis, having arrived in South Africa minus more than 30 leading players due to club commitments and injury.”There was always the possibility that this could happen but with 11 minutes to go it was 30-10,” said Ashton.”Four tries in the last 11 minutes leaves the scoreboard looking like it does.”Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery kicked 10 out of 10 attempts at goal to allow England no respite.The teams meet in the second test in Pretoria on Saturday.”There’s two ways we can respond to this,” said Ashton “We can either sulk and feel sorry for ourselves all week.”But we’re going to get ourselves up and put on a more competitive performance in Pretoria.”Springbok coach Jake White was happy with the scoreline but disappointed by the performance.”I thought we were poor in first phases and didn’t set the platform we would have liked but the way we attacked from broken play was outstanding,” he said.South Africa scored four of their tries from their own half against an England side who obviously struggled with the illness in the camp and thin air of Bloemfontein.”It’s not an excuse but there were several players feeling the after-effects,” said Ashton.”In the first 20 minutes of the second half we put into effect the things we had been practicing but then we just blew up.”Springbok captain John Smit said his team had suffered from the fact that 10 of the starting XV had played in the Super 14 final a week before.”The try they scored gave us a wake-up call,” said Smit.”I said to the guys let’s get out of cruise control and we played the kind of game we have been practising.”This was the first chapter in what is going to be quite a successful year for the Springboks.”* Meanwhile, Influential playmaker Stephen Larkham rates himself a likely starter for the Wallabies in the return rugby Test with Wales here on Saturday.Australia’s most-capped fly-half, with 95 international appearances, is expected to be paired with long-time halves partner George Gregan in two of six anticipated changes to the Australian starting XV.The Wallabies were roasted in the media for their shoddy performance against Wales last Saturday, conceding a 17-0 lead before coming back to win 29-23.Larkham missed the Sydney match with a hamstring strain, but the 33-year-old pivot trained strongly Monday.”It’s very promising at this stage,” Larkham told reporters.”I got through 30 minutes with the team and I didn’t feel it any stage through there.”That was enough for me today and the doctor’s happy with that so tomorrow we’ll progress it a bit more.”Nampa-Reuters”We’re hoping it’s just a soft tissue injury,” England coach Brian Ashton told reporters.Wing Iain Balshaw was taken to hospital for a scan on a shin injury and back rower Andy Hazell did not reappear after halftime because of a ligament injury.England had already lost four players from their selected starting line-up due to injury and gastroenteritis, having arrived in South Africa minus more than 30 leading players due to club commitments and injury.”There was always the possibility that this could happen but with 11 minutes to go it was 30-10,” said Ashton.”Four tries in the last 11 minutes leaves the scoreboard looking like it does.”Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery kicked 10 out of 10 attempts at goal to allow England no respite.The teams meet in the second test in Pretoria on Saturday.”There’s two ways we can respond to this,” said Ashton “We can either sulk and feel sorry for ourselves all week.”But we’re going to get ourselves up and put on a more competitive performance in Pretoria.”Springbok coach Jake White was happy with the scoreline but disappointed by the performance.”I thought we were poor in first phases and didn’t set the platform we would have liked but the way we attacked from broken play was outstanding,” he said.South Africa scored four of their tries from their own half against an England side who obviously struggled with the illness in the camp and thin air of Bloemfontein.”It’s not an excuse but there were several players feeling the after-effects,” said Ashton.”In the first 20 minutes of the second half we put into effect the things we had been practicing but then we just blew up.”Springbok captain John Smit said his team had suffered from the fact that 10 of the starting XV had played in the Super 14 final a week before.”The try they scored gave us a wake-up call,” said Smit.”I said to the guys let’s get out of cruise control and we played the kind of game we have been practising.”This was the first chapter in what is going to be quite a successful year for the Springboks.”* Meanwhile, Influential playmaker Stephen Larkham rates himself a likely starter for the Wallabies in the return rugby Test with Wales here on Saturday.Australia’s most-capped fly-half, with 95 international appearances, is expected to be paired with long-time halves partner George Gregan in two of six anticipated changes to the Australian starting XV.The Wallabies were roasted in the media for their shoddy performance against Wales last Saturday, conceding a 17-0 lead before coming back to win 29-23.Larkham missed the Sydney match with a hamstring strain, but the 33-year-old pivot trained strongly Monday.”It’s very promising at this stage,” Larkham told reporters.”I got through 30 minutes with the team and I didn’t feel it any stage through there.”That was enough for me today and the doctor’s happy with that so tomorrow we’ll progress it a bit more.”Nampa-Reuters