Rugby Union: Archer in race to face Springboks
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Your support makes all the difference.ENGLAND HAVE spent the entire summer travelling in hope rather than expectation and they will continue in the same vein when they leave the rugged rugby territory of New Zealand for the even less forgiving environment of South Africa tomorrow.
Garath Archer, one of the most experienced forwards in the party and certainly the most physical, will make the long trek to Cape Town despite the fact that he has spent the last two days on crutches.
There is a certain irony in the fact that Archer, until today the only- ever present England Test performer under the Clive Woodward regime, compromised his enviable appearance record on the basketball court rather than the rugby field.
The Newcastle second row survived last weekend's fearful scrap with the All Blacks without so much as a bruise, only to sprain his left ankle during an impromptu and none too life-like impersonation of Michael Jordan.
His withdrawal from today's Test in Auckland added to the problems caused by the dismissal and subsequent suspension of Danny Grewcock, his partner in the red rose engine room, following a kicking incident during last Saturday's hostilities in Dunedin.
"Danny's five-week ban means we are deprived of his services, but we remain hopeful that Garath will recover in time to face the Springboks at Newlands next weekend," said the England manager, Roger Uttley, yesterday. "We'll certainly need him over there. If anything, the Boks will present a bigger physical challenge than the All Blacks."
Uttley emphasised that no replacement lock would be summoned from England, even though the tourists are now down to their last two serviceable second rows in Dave Sims and Rob Fidler. "We have the option of playing Ben Sturnham at lock, as we did against the New Zealand Maori in midweek," said the manager. "However, we are still confident that Garath will come through."
The ankle injury affecting Phil Greening threatens to leave England even more exposed, even though the Gloucester hooker was pronounced fit enough to sit on the bench at Eden Park today.
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