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Rugby Union

Ashton excuses European finalists

26/04/2007

England coach Brian Ashton has moved to avoid another potential row over the use of elite players by ruling Leicester, Wasps and Bath stars out of the summer tour of South Africa.

Wasps and Leicester will meet in the Heineken Cup final on May 20th, while Bath face ASM Clermont Auvergne in the European Challenge Cup the day before.

With England due to take on the Springboks just a week after and the second test following closely behind on June 2nd, the former Ireland coach has decided to allow those involved in the two finals to skip the trip and reconvene with their international team-mates at the start of the World Cup warm-up camps on June 25th.

The absentees will leave England with no option but to field a relatively inexperienced side, particularly in a pack that will be without the likes of Joe Worsley, Danny Grewcock and Martin Corry.

"I've reached the decision based on three principles," Ashton explained.

"Firstly, the players will not have time to prepare and acclimatise for the first Test match.

"And secondly, after their massive efforts spent inreaching the Heineken and European Challenge Cup finals it gives this group of players the opportunity to recharge their batteries.

"Finally, I also feel very strongly that the players I will select for the touring squad must be trusted and respected to fulfil the two fixtures against South Africa."

The situation will bring back memories of England's 76-0 drubbing in the first test of their 1998 tour of Australia.

Without several injured or unavailable key members of his squad, coach Clive Woodward was forced to experiment with disastrous consequences.

The match was however one of Jonny Wilkinson's first for his country and he later emerged from the wreckage to take his revenge on the Australians five years later in the World Cup final in Sydney.

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