Healey in Gear to Enter the Fray

Austin Healey has declared himself ready to join England's World Cup squad should they encounter any more fitness problems.

The Leicester back was called up before last week's match against South Africa when injuries left England short of scrum-half cover, but an ankle knock of his own meant that Bath's Martyn Wood travelled to Australia, later returning without even saying hello to the squad.

Healey should play in this weekend's Premiership match against Northampton but is ready to go at a moment's notice. "The ankle is good and I would be available if I get the call," he said.

England's captain Martin Johnson, meanwhile, lent his full weight yesterday to the campaign to help save Pacific Islands rugby but insists his side will not go easy on the impoverished Samoans when they meet on Sunday.

Though he is as disappointed as any other rugby fan that several leading Samoan players have had to miss the World Cup because they cannot afford time off from their clubs in Europe, any sympathy will be in short supply as England seek to confirm top place in Pool C. "It's the World Cup and all the best players in the world should be here," said Johnson. "You'd like to think something could be done to help those teams, because the game needs them."

The England coach Clive Woodward is stressing that all his top players have no margin for error against Samoa if they wish to start England's knockout games next month. "I am making sure that Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill and Neil Back fully understand that with Lewis Moody and Joe Worsley there they have to be at their best," he said.

After Samoa, Woodward intends to give Jonny Wilkinson the week off before the game against Uruguay on Sunday week. By then his fly-half hopes to have rediscovered his best form in open play, having acknowledged again that he was below par against South Africa.