Wood flies out to Perth after England hit by injuries

MARTYN WOOD arrived in Australia last night and admitted that his head was still spinning from events of the last 24 hours.

The Bath scrum-half has flown to Perth as a precautionary measure, following injuries to Matt Dawson, Kyran Bracken and Andy Gomarsall. Gomarsall should be fit for Saturday's clash against South Africa, but Dawson is rated only a 50-50 prospect and Bracken has a back problem.

Wood, who has won two caps, will not officially join the England squad, even though he has arrived in Australia. For the next couple of days, he won't be allowed to stay in the same hotel as England or train with them, and it is possible that he could return home later this week if the scrum-half injuries clear up.

In the meantime, Wood will stay fit and ready, in case he is required for duty against the Springboks.

Dawson went off injured during Sunday's 84-6 victory over Georgia and head coach Clive Woodward believes that he has only a 50-50 chance of recovering in time.

Meanwhile, Bracken is battling to overcome a back problem and, though Woodward believes that he will be training again by tomorrow, there must be fears over his long-term World Cup prospects.

England's other main injury worry for the Springboks clash is flanker Richard Hill, who has a slight hamstring strain. His progress will be monitored closely and Woodward is hopeful that one of his key players will be fit.

Bath captain Danny Grewcock, though, is unlikely to feature in England's match-day 22 against South Africa.

Woodward announced last night that second-row forward Grewcock broke his toe in the warm-up before the Georgia game after Ben Cohen accidentally stepped on him.

"We don't want Danny to play against South Africa this weekend, or against Samoa the next weekend, but if Martin Johnson, Ben Kay or Martin Corry got injured, then he would play," said Woodward.

The good news for England at this stage is that they have no reason to send any player home, though it has clearly not been a great start to one of the biggest weeks in Woodward's six-year coaching reign.

Woodward plans to announce his starting line-up to face South Africa tomorrow and, if forecasts prove accurate, then Bracken could well start, with Gomarsall on the bench.