CLIVE Woodward will wait until today before deciding on whether to fly out replacements for his growing list of injured players, but one thing is certain — his original rationale for bringing an extended squad doesn’t quite bear up to scrutiny, writes Peter O’Reilly.
Woodward’s explanation for a 45-man party was that it would obviate the need for replacements as on previous tours, when new arrivals needed to be briefed on calls and strategies almost as soon as they were checking in at the team hotel. So far, Woodward has opted to call out three replacements — Simon Shaw, Simon Easterby and Ryan Jones. It seems inevitable that further reinforcements will be required.
The main problem is in midfield. O’Driscoll dislocated his left shoulder after just 90 seconds of yesterday’s game. Tom Shanklin will also play no further part in the tour on medical advice because of inflammation in a knee injury which has prevented him from training fully for the past week. This leaves six available centres — Will Greenwood, Jonny Wilkinson, Ollie Smith, Gordon D’Arcy, Gavin Henson and Shane Horgan, though Horgan will probably be needed to play wing. A two-games-per-week schedule means an extra midfielder will be required.
Woodward described Hill’s injury as “a serious knee problem”, which sounds like a recurrence of the difficulties that kept the 32-year-old out of action for most of last season. A decision on his further participation in the tour is expected today. Similarly, Woodward must decide on a replacement captain for O’Driscoll, with yesterday’s vice-captain Martin Corry the clear favourite.