Rugby Union: Wilkinson Takes Wheel of Sinking England Ship

England's luckless tour has hit so many obstacles that Brian Ashton must now fear he is merely rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. To nobody's huge surprise the limping Jason Robinson has became the latest squad member to disappear overboard, forcing Ashton to install Jonny Wilkinson as his emergency captain for today's second Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.

It will be the second time Wilkinson has led his country but this really is the mother of all hospital passes. England are so short of cover in the back three that Mike Brown of Harlequins has been asked to make a Lazarus-style return to the starting XV, having been written off by the team doctor in midweek. A makeshift wing combination of Jamie Noon and Dan Scarbrough must somehow contain the lightning-quick Bryan Habana, and the 23-year-old Ben Skirving faces a daunting introduction to Test rugby at No8.

Another week of relentless uncertainty is no way to prepare to face opponents of such power and ability and both Ashton and the bookmakers know it. South Africa are being quoted at 200-1 on to complete a 2-0 series rout and the odds on Wilkinson completing the game in one piece are likewise not reassuring. The fly-half failed to finish his only previous outing as England captain against Italy at Twickenham in 2003 but Ashton did not hesitate once it became apparent that Robinson's swollen knee would not heal swiftly enough. "He's captained the side before and he plays in a position where a lot of the game depends on what he does," explained Ashton. "From that point of view it seemed a logical choice."

Although Wilkinson insists the extra responsibility will not affect his game - "It's a massive honour but it doesn't really change anything for me" - his promotion is slightly ironic at the end of a week in which the management had spoken about reducing his on-field workload. As Ashton conceded, however, his No10 is unlikely to be able to pick and choose his tackles any more than he did during the 58-10 defeat in Bloemfontein last week. "We're not going to ask him not to tackle Schalk Burger when he comes around the corner. It'll be first man there," admitted the head coach.

If nothing else the management are optimistic that their forwards in general, and the backrow in particular, will ask more defensive questions of their Springbok opposite numbers. The return of the South African-born Matt Stevens at tight-head prop and a first start for the hard-working Roy Winters at lock adds dynamism to the front five and, despite the unavailability of Pat Sanderson with a neck problem, there is a more physical look to the loose-forward unit. Skirving, who captained England at Under-16 level and has made 92 appearances for Saracens since joining from his local side Bishop's Stortford, is a talented ball-player and Ashton has high hopes. "He's quite athletic and we're hoping he'll use that athleticism to good effect in attack and defence."

Quite what inroads England will be able to make out wide with any ball they do secure is another matter. The Newcastle trio of Noon, Mathew Tait and Toby Flood will probably interchange roles at times to counter South Africa's midfield power but it is asking too much of the 21-year-old Brown to spring from his sickbed and take the Boks apart. "On Wednesday morning he was really ill but on Thursday he made a dramatic recovery and, medically, he's been passed fit to play," insisted Ashton. "If I'd wanted a course in crisis management I couldn't have gone anywhere better." The stomach bug has now transferred itself to the coaching staff, with John Wells the latest victim.

It is scant consolation in the circumstances but the Springboks have also been forced into a late switch by Danie Rossouw's withdrawal with a heavy cold. The bad news is that the gifted Pierre Spies will now start and the recalled Bob Skinstad is back on the bench for a contest which is the coach Jake White's 39th Test in charge, a South African record. Anyone who believes the Boks will slip into complacent mode and let England off lightly is deluding himself.

The only glint of encouragement from the visitors' point of view is that adversity has brought the squad closer together. They also know precisely what to expect. "The players have felt what it's like to play against a full-strength South Africa side and, to that extent, will be better prepared," predicted Ashton. But it will not be enough to save them from another hiding.

South Africa v England


Venue Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Time Today, 2pm BST Referee Joël Jutge (France)

15 P Montgomery Sharks

14 A Ndungane Bulls

13 W Olivier Bulls

12 J de Villiers Stormers

11 B Habana Bulls

10 B James Sharks

9 R Januarie Lions

1 G Steenkamp Bulls

2 J Smit Sharks, captain

3 C J van d' Linde Cheetahs

4 B Botha Bulls

5 V Matfield Bulls

6 S Burger Stormers

7 J Smith Cheetahs

8 P Spies Bulls

Replacements G Botha (Bulls), D Carstens (Sharks), J Muller (Sharks), B Skinstad (Sharks), R Pienaar (Sharks), F Steyn (Sharks), A Willemse (Lions)

15 M Brown Harlequins

14 J Noon Newcastle

13 M Tait Newcastle

12 T Flood Newcastle

11 D Scarbrough Saracens

10 J Wilkinson Newcastle, captain

9 A Gomarsall Harlequins

1 K Yates Saracens

2 M Regan Bristol

3 M Stevens Bath

4 R Winters Bristol

5 A Brown Gloucester

6 N Easter Harlequins

7 M Lund Sale Sharks

8 B Skirving Saracens

Replacements A Titterrell, S Turner, D Schofield, C Jones (all Sale Sharks), S Perry (Bristol), A Allen (Gloucester), N Abendanon (Bath)