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Rugby Union

Ashton forced into more changes

25/05/2007

Saracens prop-forward Kevin Yates has been drafted in to replace Gloucester's Nick Wood in England's starting XV for the first Test against South Africa tomorrow.

Wood, 24, has been withdrawn after he tore his right pectoral muscle in training yesterday and is now unlikely to play on the southern hemisphere tour – a major blow to his hopes of pressing for a World Cup place.

Yates, 34, last featured for England in a Test match against Argentina in June 1997 and has had to wait nearly a decade to register his next cap.

In doing so, Yates breaks the international record of John Bentley, who waited nine years and 44 days between England appearances.

But despite not being in the international frame until this summer, Yates has been in impressive form for Saracens in the Guinness Premiership – notching up more tries (four) than any other prop in the country.

Wood's absence is the latest blow to Brian Ashton's preparations for the upcoming two-Test series against the Springboks.

A gastric virus that swept the squad earlier this week has already ruled out winger David Strettle, meaning Iain Balshaw replaces him in the starting XV.

And several other likely starters have also been unable to take a full part in training this week, including perennial injury victim Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half, centre Andy Farrell and pacey utility back James Simpson-Daniel.

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