/ 21 November 2006

Goode to start at flyhalf against Boks

Andy Goode will start at flyhalf for England in their second Test against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

Goode came off the bench last weekend to replace the injured Charlie Hodgson and kicked effectively, both out of hand and at goal, as he scored seven points in a 23-21 win over the Springboks, which prevented world champions England from losing eight Tests in a row for the first time.

World Cup-winning prop Phil Vickery, who also came off the bench to score the match-clinching try eight minutes from time last weekend, was also included in the starting line-up in place of the injured Andrew Sheridan.

Sale duo Hodgson and Sheridan were ruled out for the rest of the season on Monday after they were both stretchered off the field at the weekend.

Hodgson has a right knee injury while Sheridan suffered a broken left ankle, the pair’s knocks placing question marks against their participation at next year’s World Cup in France.

In other changes to the team announced by coach Andy Robinson on Tuesday, Lee Mears replaces hooker George Chuter, now on the bench, and lock Chris Jones was down to start in place of World Cup-winning second-rower Ben Kay, also now among the replacements.

Wasps pair Tim Payne (prop) and Mark van Gisbergen (fullback), both called up into the squad on Monday, are on the bench.

South Africa, who are due to name their team on Wednesday, are also set to make injury induced changes after three members of the team that played at Twickenham last weekend were ruled out with knee injuries.

Flyhalf Butch James, whose departure 20 minutes from the end helped turn the tide of the game, number eight Jacques Cronje and blindside flanker Pierre Spies have all since returned home.

The tourists have called up loose forwards Gerrie Britz, Kabamba Floors and Wikus van Heerden to their squad as they look to win their first match against England in eight attempts and end a run of six straight away defeats.

Despite last week’s victory, Robinson’s future remains in doubt after England’s Twickenham defeats earlier this month against New Zealand (41-20) and Argentina (25-18).

Saturday’s match is England’s last before next year’s Six Nations. — Sapa-AFP

England:

Josh Lewsey; Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Jamie Noon, Ben Cohen; Andy Goode, Peter Richards; Martin Corry (captain), Pat Sanderson, Joe Worsley; Chris Jones, Tom Palmer; Julian White, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery. Replacements: George Chuter, Tim Payne, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Shaun Perry, Toby Flood, Mark Van Gisbergen.