England’s troubled tour of South Africa is in danger of descending into complete disarray after four players were ruled out of Saturday’s second Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.

David Strettle has been backed to make a full recovery from his disastrous trip to South Africa.

England began picking up the pieces after a record defeat against South Africa, with scrum-half Andy Gomarsall admitting: “Reality has hit us.”

Gloucester back Iain Balshaw will miss England’s second Test clash against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday due to injury.

England’s battered and bruised squad limped out of Bloemfontein ready for possible further punishment from the Springboks, with pack leader Mark Regan admitting: “We’ve got another tidal wave coming at us”.

South Africa 58 England 10

John Wells insists England’s rookie pack “know what is coming” when they stand toe to toe with a juggernaut South Africa eight in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

HARRY ELLIS — England’s most consistent performer during the RBS Six Nations Championship this season — could face Twickenham heartache as Leicester crank up their trophy treble bid.

Gloucester and Sale Sharks are expected to provide a large chunk of England boss Brian Ashton’s South Africa tour squad when it is announced at Twickenham later today.

Two superb tries at either end of the match restored Gloucester’s confidence after two Guinness Premiership defeats, but there was little else to enliven a dire struggle in muddy conditions at Kingsholm.

Leinster 37 Gloucester 20

DEAN RYAN believes yesterday’s dramatic 36-34 European Challenge Cup final victory over London Irish can be the start of a successful era for Gloucester.

Lawrence Dallaglio has been named in England’s RBS 6 Nations training squad - almost 17 months after he quit international rugby.

ANDY ROBINSON has conceded that England have “dropped off the pace” since their World Cup triumph two years ago.

England have been hit by another major injury blow ahead of their autumn Test series opener against Australia at Twickenham.

Ben Cohen’s rich try-scoring form has been rewarded with a recall to the England squad for the autumn Investec Test series.

Sale Sharks boss Philippe Saint-Andre has described tomorrow’s Zurich English Premiership title eliminator against champions Wasps as “a bonus” for his team.

England 39 Italy 7

England 39 Italy 7

England flanker Lewis Moody passed a fitness test today on his septic finger, an injury which required hospital treatment and meant he did not join up with the squad until last night.

England flanker Lewis Moody faces a fitness test later today ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Leicester flanker Lewis Moody’s chances of recovering from an infected finger in time to face Ireland on Sunday are “very slim” according to England head coach Andy Robinson.

England will make a late decision on the fitness of Lewis Moody, who is doubtful for Sunday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Ireland at Lansdowne Road because of an infected finger.

OLLY BARKLEY will be England’s centre of attention when the world champions tackle an RBS 6 Nations salvage job against France at Twickenham on Sunday.

Olly Barkley will be England’s centre of attention when the world champions tackle a RBS 6 Nations salvage job against France at Twickenham on Sunday.

England coach Andy Robinson has made five changes for the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against title-holders France at Twickenham on Sunday.

Henry Paul today won an England recall when coach Andy Robinson added reinforcements to his squad to face France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Sunday.

GAVIN Henson last night mirrored the mood of an expectant Welsh nation, by declaring: “It’s our best chance to beat England for a long time.”

England suffered a late injury blow today when Lewis Moody was ruled out of tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Martyn Williams was today just one hurdle away from winning a dramatic 50th Wales cap in the RBS 6 Nations opener against England on Saturday.

Barry Coughlan

Newcastle teenager Mathew Tait will make his England debut in the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Wales on Saturday.

World Cup winner Mike Tindall claims tomorrow’s Twickenham clash against Canada provides a “perfect start” to the international season for new-look England.

Gloucester 55 Ulster 13

Neath-Swansea Ospreys have made no fewer than five changes from their first day defeat to Stade Francais for the visit of Munster to The Gnoll on Sunday (3pm).

London Irish boss Gary Gold blamed his side’s careless errors after they threw away a 10-point lead and sacrificed a precious Zurich Premiership win over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

England 12 Barbarians 32

Hugh Vyvyan will captain England in next Sunday’s non-cap clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Leicester could rescue a miserable season with victory in the Zurich Wildcard competition – and skipper Martin Johnson has demanded his side do just that.

GLOUCESTER’S worst fears have been realised with the withdrawal yesterday of England World Cup-winning tight head prop Phil Vickery from their side to meet Munster in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm tomorrow.

JOHN HAYES trained with Munster at Thomond Park yesterday and is a certain starter against Gloucester in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm on Saturday.

THERE may be good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup double header against Gloucester later this month.

ARGENTINA winger Octavio Bartolucci snapped his Achilles tendon in a club match at the weekend and is out of the World Cup.