News

England forced into late change

Thursday 20th November 2008

Late change: Tim Payne comes into the England starting XV

England have been forced into a late change ahead of Saturday's game against South Africa.

Andrew Sheridan, a man the Boks had been targeting, has withdrawn from the side due a neck injury. The injury is not serious, but as a precaution the England medical staff feel it best to rest the Sale prop.

Sheridan's place goes to Wasps loosehead Tim Payne, who comes straight into the side, having not previously been included in MArtin Johnson's original matchday twenty-two.

England (revised): 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Tom Rees, 6 James Haskell, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Jordan Crane, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 Toby Flood.

Date: Saturday, November 22
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Alan Rolland (Ireland), Romain Poite (France)
Television match official: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (South Africa)