England sweat on Wilkinson for Springboks clash

JONNY WILKINSON faces an intense fitness fight to make England’s crunch World Cup clash against South Africa at the Stade de France.

While the Webb Ellis Trophy holders should launch their campaign with a routine Pool A victory over the USA in Lens on Saturday, Wilkinson will be once again be battling his injury demons.

The latest setback of an injury-littered career since his drop goal saw England crowned world champions almost four years ago has been revealed as “a lateral ankle ligament sprain”.