England's World Cup injury concerns grew today when Danny Grewcock and Richard Hill were added to the walking wounded.
Bath second-row Grewcock was hurt in the warm-up before their opening match against Georgia yesterday, while Saracens flanker Hill apparently suffered an injury, thought to be a hamstring problem, before being replaced in the second half.
The news is a further blow coming after injuries to scrum-halves Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken left England head coach Clive Woodward sending an SOS last night for Bath's Martyn Wood, who is flying out to await news of their condition before possibly joining the squad.
It means third-choice scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, from Gloucester, is in line for the defining Pool C encounter against South Africa on Saturday.
Grewcock's injury is thought to be to a toe and Woodward was due to give a detailed injury update later today.
"Grewcock took a slight knock in the warm-up and it stiffened as the game went on," said coach Andy Robinson today.
"We didn't think it right to risk him and it is being looked at today." Scrum-half Dawson has declared his intention to be available for the crunch clash against the Springboks.
Dawson suffered a leg injury during yesterday's 84-6 Pool C victory over Georgia in rain-lashed Perth.
"I came off towards half-time with a knock on my leg but don't believe it will affect my availability for selection," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"It was decided that I should come off more as a precaution than anything. "South Africa is a match that none of us wants to miss."