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Injured Balshaw's tour has ended

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- England wing Iain Balshaw has been ruled out of the rest of their tour of South Africa, team spokesman Richard Prescott said on Sunday.

However, injured fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and flanker Andy Hazell are expected to be fit for the second test against the Springboks in Pretoria on June 2, he added.

Balshaw will fly out of South Africa on Sunday evening.

"The wound on his right shin was cleaned out and it was clear he would not be able to play in the second test, so he will fly home tonight," Prescott said.

Balshaw suffered the injury an hour into the first test in Bloemfontein on Saturday, which England lost 58-10, their heaviest defeat by South Africa.

There was better news regarding Wilkinson, who suffered a back spasm and a blow to the nose trying to tackle flanker Schalk Burger as he crashed over for the Springboks' fourth try.

"Jonny suffered a facial laceration and his lower back is sore but he is receiving treatment and is expected to be available for training later in the week," Prescott said.

Hazell's injury was described as just "a knock on the knee" and he is also likely to train later in the week.

Reduced

South Africa reduced their squad by four players to 34 on Sunday ahead of the second test in Pretoria next weekend.

Injured scrum-half Fourie du Preez, lock Johan Ackermann, flank Wikus van Heerden and wing Odwa Ndungane were not called back into the training group assembled by coach Jake White.

Fly-half Andre Pretorius and center Jaque Fourie remain absent.

A Springboks spokesman said the squad would have medical tests on Monday before a decision was taken on whether it might be further reduced.

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