Andrew hints at Christchurch changes

Monday 16th June 2008

England are set to replace Andrew Sheridan with loose-head Tim Payne for the second Test against New Zealand after Sheridan suffered a gruesome eye injury.

Sheridan had twelve stitches inserted into a cut around his left eye-lid after Saturday's defeat in Auckland and the England medics consider it too delicate to risk him facing the All Blacks this weekend.

Payne is set to be promoted from the bench when Tour Manager Rob Andrew names his team in the early hours of Tuesday with Bristol's Jason Hobson to make the England bench for the first.

Sheridan was caught in the face by a stray stud from Lee Mears' boot as a scrum collapsed and he left the field after 65 minutes requiring stitches inside and outside of his eye-lid.

"I have never seen stitches that close to the eye. They are right where the eye-lashes are," said Sheridan's fellow England prop Matt Stevens.

"You see some horrific injuries at the bottom of rucks and scrums. It is the luck of the draw. If your face is at the bottom of a ruck, that can happen.

"Andy is a superb loosehead and he is disappointed but we are lucky we have someone like Tim Payne to come in.

"He has played seven finals over the last few years with Wasps and won them all. He is a seasoned player. A guy with an unbelievable work rate and someone I am looking forward to playing with."

Payne, who missed out on the World Cup after suffering knee ligament damage, has only made four starts for England, the last of which was against Italy when Sheridan was ruled out with a leg injury.

"There are issues with Andrew's eye and the stitches inside his eye and in his eyelid. The medics are saying it will be at least two weeks before he is fit to play in a Test match," said England boss Rob Andrew.

"It was a pretty unfortunate and pretty nasty injury but we are very happy with Tim Payne in the squad.

"He was unlucky not to go to the World Cup and he has done very well when he has played for England. It is a great chance for him to step up."

And other changes are likely following the Auckland defeat.

England are looking at how best to defend the channel between scrum-half and inside centre, which Ma'a Nonu was able to exploit at Eden Park.

Andrew indicated England cannot afford to carry Charlie Hodgson's defensive frailties at fly-half, despite the attacking options he offers.

That could mean Olly Barkley moving to ten with Jamie Noon and Mike Tindall forming a solid midfield partnership or Toby Flood could come into the side.

Danny Care also pressed his claims for a first Test start at scrum-half after a lively introduction off the bench.

"We are looking at what happened in the Test match on Saturday from a tactical point of view and considering how we can improve our performance," Andrew said.

"We are also considering the bigger picture, so we can look at people in a Test match environment in New Zealand."

England's defence was shredded by the All Blacks, who scored three of their four tries direct from the set-piece, and New Zealand edged the scrum battle.

But although the 37-20 scoreline flattered England, they did cause New Zealand major problems at the breakdown and the lineout.

"The players are frustrated. They are disappointed with letting an opportunity go," Andrew added.

"We went toe-to-toe in some areas. We started well and finished well but there were about fifteen minutes each side of half-time and you can't give the All Blacks easy points.

"This is a good All Blacks side but they didn't have to work all that hard for their four tries.

"That is something that has intensely frustrated our guys, particularly given how much work they got through in other areas.

"The back row matched the All Blacks, which is some feat for young guys who have got about fifteen caps between them.

"They are looking forward to tackling the All Blacks again."