News round-up/England: England's Charlie Hodgson and Andrew Sheridan face a fight to keep alive their World Cup dreams after suffering injury setbacks. Neither player will feature again this season as England's troubled autumn Test campaign claimed its highest-profile victims.
The Sale Sharks pair face surgery in the next week, in outhalf Hodgson's case to repair a ruptured cruciate knee ligament, while prop Sheridan has a fractured left ankle and associated ligament damage.
They will miss the Six Nations Championship and would appear to have little chance of making England's two-Test tour of South Africa in late May and early June. And that would leave them with just three World Cup warm-up games before England's tournament opener against the USA in Lens on September 8th.
Hodgson's hopes of featuring in the triumphant 2003 World Cup were destroyed by an identical injury, albeit to his left knee, but the right knee will now be operated on after he was carried off during a 23-21 victory over South Africa two days ago.
Sheridan also left the action on a stretcher, giving coach Andy Robinson plenty to ponder before naming his team today for Saturday's second Springbok Test.
SCOTLAND: Scotland captain Jason White is to undergo surgery on his right knee and could be out for nine months. The Sale Sharks backrower was injured during the 48-6 Test victory over Romania nine days ago.
Meanwhile, Johnnie Beattie can expect to be sidelined for around six weeks after sustaining ankle ligament damage against the Pacific Islands on Saturday.
And Tonga flanker Viliami Vaki will face a disciplinary hearing after Chris Cusiter was ruled out for the rest of the season having severely injured his shoulder following a dangerous off-the-ball challenge.
WALES: Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins received mixed news on the injury front ahead of Saturday's clash with New Zealand. Stephen Jones and Gavin Henson returned from injury for yesterday's training session and are expected to be fit to tackle the All Blacks.
Fullback Gareth Thomas is set to train today in an attempt to prove his fitness following a knee injury. Lock Robert Sidoli requires shoulder surgery and could be out for 10 weeks.Wales name their team to face the All Blacks first thing tomorrow.
EUROPEAN CUP: The Heineken European Cup will break new ground in January after organisers confirmed reigning champions Munster will take on Bourgoin in the Swiss city of Geneva. Bourgoin can expect a record crowd after moving their Pool Five tie across the border to the 30,000-capacity Stade de Geneve. The clash is scheduled for the second weekend in January.
