Wood goes solo at training

Martyn Wood arrived Down Under last night – and was immediately taken into solitary confinement.

Under tournament rules, the Bath scrum-half cannot train with England’s 30-man squad or stay at the same hotel because he has flown out as precautionary injury cover and not been officially called up to their World Cup squad.

So while England hit the training ground this morning ahead of next Saturday’s Pool C showdown with South Africa at Subiaco Oval, Wood found himself in splendid isolation and heading for a gym session.

“It is just part of the World Cup rules, that we fully support. Until you actually replace a player, he can’t join the team in the hotel, for training or meals, but Martyn is here and he will spend the next 24 to 48 hours getting over the jetlag,” said England head coach Clive Woodward.

“The key thing is that everyone must understand the moment we replace a player, like if we were to replace Matt Dawson, Kyran Bracken or Andy Gomarsall, then that player can’t play again in the tournament.

“So it is a big decision, and one that we have got to get absolutely spot-on. If we have two fit scrum-halves by the weekend, then come Thursday, Martyn will be flying back.”

It would appear that Wood will either be back on a flight home on Thursday night – and possibly be available for Bath’s Zurich Premiership clash against Saracens next Sunday – or take his place as a fully-fledged World Cup squad member.

England’s long-term concern seems to surround Kyran Bracken, who has a back problem.

Matt Dawson, meanwhile, despite being a major doubt for the South Africa game through hamstring trouble, should regain full fitness next week if he doesn’t feature against the Springboks.

“Kyran had major disc surgery around the time of the 1999 World Cup, and he has had less problems since that time,” said England team doctor Simon Kemp.

“We are optimistic that going forward this week, he will be fit to be available for selection.”

Clearly, a decision must be made – probably on Thursday – whether Wood stays, or goes, and he is ready to take his chance if required.

“I got a call at 5.30pm on Sunday to get to the airport, so I had to get my skates on, given that the flight was at 10.15pm,” said Wood.

“It came as a surprise, but I had been on stand-by. My head is still spinning a bit in that I was having Sunday roast with my flat-mate David Flatman a day or so ago, and now I am in Australia.

“If I get the chance, then I will take it with both hands. I am here if anything happens.”

Woodward plans to announce his starting line-up to face South Africa tomorrow.

Apart from Dawson and Bracken, scrum-half Andy Gomarsall (shin), centre Mike Tindall (bruised knee), flanker Richard Hill (slight hamstring strain) and lock Danny Grewcock (broken toe) have all been assessed by England’s medical staff.

Gomarsall and Tindall are expected to be available, and although Woodward initially rated Hill a 50-50 prospect, optimism prevails as far as the Saracens back-row forward is concerned.

Grewcock would also play through the pain barrier if anything happened to his fellow locks Martin Johnson, Ben Kay or Martin Corry this week, but England ideally do not want to play him against South Africa, or Samoa in Melbourne on Sunday week.

“No-one has got to go home,” said Woodward. “We have got a few more injuries than I was hoping for, but in my heart of hearts, I think Dawson is the only major doubt for Saturday.”

South Africa are also monitoring the fitness of several players, with centre Jaque Fourie, wing Thinus Delport, fly-half Derick Hougaard and flanker Hendro Scholtz all currently receiving treatment.