Vickery ban adds to England woes

PARIS, France -- England captain Phil Vickery has been banned for two matches by a World Cup judicial hearing on Tuesday for kicking United States centre Paul Emerick in last weekend's opening group game.

The suspension rules the tighthead prop out of the defending champions' key Pool A clash against South Africa in Paris on Friday and the September 22 fixture with Samoa in Nantes.

Wasps star Vickery, 30, who earlier in the day was named in the team to face the Springboks, has 48 hours in which to launch an appeal.

It was the second blow of the day for for England after Jonny Wilkinson's stand-in Olly Barkley hurt a hip in training.

Barkley had stepped in for the 28-10 victory against the U.S. in place of injury-plagued Wilkinson, whose last-gasp drop-goal secured victory in the 2003 final.

Newcastle Falcons player Wilkinson has a ligament sprain in his right ankle and was not included in either the starting side to face the Springboks or named on the bench by coach Brian Ashton on Tuesday.

But that could change if Bath back Barkley -- he was named in the England starting side despite his injury -- is ruled out.

"Olly Barkley has strained a hip flexor," Ashton told reporters at England's hotel. "He was just running around. There was no-one near him as usual with an England injury."

Regarding Wilkinson, Ashton added: "Jonny is rehabbing his injury and we don't know at this moment in time if he will be fit to take part on Friday.

"We'll wait and see what the outcome on Olly Barkley is and decide our strategies from there on in.

"If Olly's not fit and Jonny becomes fit, then problem solved. But we just don't know."

Sources say that Wilkinson has made considerable progress since picking up his latest injury last week.

The 28-year-old has missed 34 out of England's 41 Tests with a variety of injuries since his final heroics.

Vickery, meanwhile, has paid the penalty for stretching out a leg with U.S. player Emerick on course to score a try -- although the England skipper had claimed the incident was an accident.

He escaped punishment from South African referee Jonathan Kaplan, but the citing commissioner decided to take action.

Legal representative Richard Smith had said beforehand that should the hearing ban Vickery from playing against South Africa, there would be an immediate appeal.

Earlier in the day U.S. player Paul Emerick was banned for five weeks for a dangerous tackle and will almost certainly miss the rest of the World Cup.

Emerick, an outside centre, was sent off in the 80th minute of the loss to England for a spear tackle that dropped Barkley on his head.

Emerick's ban will expire October 16, four days before the Rugby World Cup final.

England, meanwhile, have made three changes plus one positional switch as they look to end a three-match losing streak against the Springboks.

Mark Cueto has been dropped at full-back with Jason Robinson moving across from the wing. Paul Sackey comes in at left wing.

Nick Easter replaces former captain Lawrence Dallaglio at No 8 and there is another back-row change with Martin Corry, also an ex-England captain, coming in for Joe Worsley.

"This is a game that could be dominated by lineouts. We felt it was important to have a big lineout presence in the back-row and that's the reason for putting Martin Corry in there," said Ashton.

And of Easter's inclusion, he said: "If we scrummage well it gives us the opportunity to do things from the base of the scrum which Nick is particularly adept at."

Ashton, who has previously said full-back is not Robinson's best position, added: "Mark Cueto has struggled a little bit to find his form. Jason is very keen to play there (full-back)."

England (Provisional): Jason Robinson; Paul Sackey, Jamie Noon, Mike Catt, Josh Lewsey; Olly Barkley, Shaun Perry; Nick Easter, Tom Rees, Martin Corry; Ben Kay, Simon Shaw; Phil Vickery (captain), Mark Regan, Andrew Sheridan

Replacements: George Chuter, Matt Stevens, Steve Borthwick, Lewis Moody, Andy Gomarsall, Andy Farrell, AN Other E-mail to a friend