England pair set for World Cup KO

David Strettle and Mike Tindall could both be ruled out of World Cup contention today when England boss Brian Ashton assesses his casualty list.

Harlequins wing Strettle’s absence from the World Cup squad is expected to be a formality.

He broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during training yesterday, and was due to see a specialist in London last night. A two month lay-off cannot be ruled out.

Gloucester centre Tindall, meanwhile, has reached judgement day following a prolonged battle to recover from a broken leg sustained in Guinness Premiership action four months ago.

Tindall, a 2003 England World Cup winner, has taken part in only limited training, and it would be a huge surprise if he featured among Ashton’s elite 30-man group when it is announced in Bath next Tuesday.

Ashton can also expect updates on Mark Cueto (groin), Tom Rees (hamstring) and Peter Richards (back), although it is understood all three players are on course to resume full training next Monday.

If Strettle is ruled out, then Ashton must decide whether or not to summon a training squad replacement.

England conclude their World Cup warm-up programme against France in Marseille on Saturday week, so the likes of James Simpson-Daniel, Dan Scarbrough and Tom Voyce might attract Ashton’s attention.

Paul Sackey, meanwhile, has described the potential loss of Strettle from England’s World Cup campaign as “a massive blow”.

England football stars David Beckham and Wayne Rooney – before the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, respectively – endured seven-week absences when they suffered similar injuries.

A lay-off for Strettle of that proportion would effectively sideline him throughout the World Cup pool stages next month, when England play the USA, South Africa, Samoa and Tonga.

The 24-year-old wing looked a certainty for France, and it would appear Nick Abendanon and Danny Cipriani are now battling it out to complete the World Cup squad’s back-three composition alongside Wasps wing Sackey, Cueto, Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey.

Sackey said: “I don’t know the full extent of his injury. He is an exciting player who has performed really well.

“It would be a massive blow, but if he is out, then we just have to get on with it and get on with the plans we have put in place so far.”

Ashton has already ruled uncapped Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith out of his World Cup plans after he failed to recover in time from a knee injury.

Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson, meanwhile, is believed to have disappeared from Ashton’s World Cup radar, although he remains part of the training squad.

It might be that by the time Ashton sits down to finalise his World Cup squad, only six further cuts in personnel could be required from a possible list of Abendanon, Cipriani, Jamie Noon, Olly Barkley, Toby Flood, Kevin Yates, Perry Freshwater, Ben Kay, Tom Palmer and James Haskell.