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/ 19 September 2007

England look to bounce back from Bok mauling

Brian Ashton may have entrusted the pivotal position of flyhalf to a man who has spent much of the past fortnight with his right foot in an ice bucket, but the England coach didn’t look like a man who’d taken a gamble when he unveiled his team to play Samoa. Fit-again Jonny Wilkinson returns and starts a Test with Olly Barkley at inside centre for the first time.

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/ 13 September 2007

England hope for ‘extraordinary performance’

England head into Friday’s crunch clash against South Africa with the key duty of goal-kicking set to be given to a man who has yet to score a Test match point in the union game. Andy Farrell was a prolific goal-kicker in rugby league but since his transfer from Wigan to Saracens in March 2005 has struck precious few kicks.

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/ 12 September 2007

Big Os still a worry for England

South Africa great Os du Randt may be 35 but that doesn’t lessen England’s respect for the powerhouse prop. Reigning world champions England will look to end a three-match losing streak against the Springboks when they meet in Friday’s potentially decisive Pool A clash in Paris.

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/ 11 September 2007

Wilkinson, Dallaglio out of Bok match

World Cup heroes Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio have been left out the England team to play South Africa in their Pool A match at the Stade de France on Friday. Flyhalf Wilkinson missed the opening match against the United States with an ankle injury but Dallaglio played at number eight. Both men were in the winning World Cup final team four years ago.

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/ 4 September 2007

Wilkinson out of World Cup opener

<a href="http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=rugbyworldcup07_home"><img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/317644/icon_rwc_03.gif" align=left border=0></a>England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has been ruled out of the defending champion’s World Cup opener against the United States after twisting his ankle in training on Tuesday. "Jonny Wilkinson twisted his ankle in training this morning and is not available for selection," said coach Brian Ashton.