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Rugby Union

Ashton's tour goes Topsy-turvy

31/05/2007

Brian Ashton has been forced to call on yet another untried player after a spate of injuries to his England squad in South Africa.

The England coach has lost the services of almost his entire first-choice selection of backs and has now called upon uncapped London Irish wing Topsy Ojo.

Ojo, 21, arrives in South Africa after being a part of the England Saxons squad taking part in the Churchill Cup and follows fellow Saxon Nick Abendanon of Bath into the senior squad.

The England under-19 back was not likely to start in the Saxons' clash with New Zealand Maori on Saturday, but Ashton was keen not to deplete the second-string side any further than he has already had to.

Injuries to Andy Farrell, Mike Brown, James Simpson-Daniel and Andy Hazell have already forced Ashton into a major rethink ahead of the second Test against the Springboks in Loftus Versfeld.

And with skipper Jason Robinson also doubtful with a knee problem the England coach has decided to hold off on announcing his starting lineup until tomorrow afternoon.

Saracens duo Dan Scarbrough and Ben Skirving and Bath prop Matt Stevens have all already been drafted in from the Saxons side which will meet the Maori team in the final of the Churchill Cup this weekend.

"Because of the shortage of backs I highlighted yesterday, I decided to call up Topsy," Ashton said.

"He was on stand-by for the England Saxons and will provide emergency back three cover for this weekend.

"I didn't want to further disrupt the Saxons starting XV for Saturday by taking another one of their players."

Ojo has represented England under-19s in the 2003 Six Nations and World Cup and only made his first-team debut for the Exiles in September 2005.

England lost their first Test by a record 58-10 defeat to the hosts in Bloemfontein last weekend.

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