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CENTURION - Four England players have been ruled out of Sunday's (NZ time) second test against South Africa in Pretoria because of illness or injury.
Fullback Mike Brown, wing James Simpson-Daniel and centre Andy Farrell have the stomach virus that has afflicted the squad since their arrival in South Africa two weeks ago, while flanker Andy Hazell has a knee injury.
England captain Jason Robinson is also struggling with a knee injury, so coach Brian Ashton has delayed naming his team until Friday and called up 20-year-old Bath utility back Nick Abendanon.
"We have only seven fit backs at the moment, three of which are scrumhalves, so we are a bit thin in the back three," Ashton told reporters in Centurion on Wednesday.
"Nick was born in South Africa, so it will be like coming home for him, and he was man of the match for England Saxons when they played Scotland A on Monday.
"He will arrive on Thursday, have a good rest, train on Friday and if he has to make his debut on Saturday then it will probably be the best way to do it because he would not have had much time to think about it.
"This bug just doesn't seem to want to leave the camp. It seems to have gone and then back it comes and you have a couple of new players falling down. It's been going backwards and forwards. But it's part and parcel of touring," Ashton added.
England suffered a record 58-10 defeat in last Saturday's first test in Bloemfontein.
- REUTERS
