England gain extra Yarde on SA
Semesa Rokoduguni is out of the England team for their clash with South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.
Marland Yarde has been called in to replace the injured Bath wing in the squad for the team's second year-end international.
Rokoduguni, who made his Test debut in last week's 21-24 defeat to New Zealand, injured his thigh and coach Stuart Lancaster believes there is not enough time for him to recover to face the Springboks.
That is the only change to the 23 players selected to face the All Blacks, with the addition of an extra back row option – after Tom Wood was unable to take a full part in Tuesday's training.
James Haskell, in a rich vein of for club side Wasps earlier this term, provides the necessary cover.
"Roko did some limited training this [Tuesday] morning but is unlikely to fully recover from his thigh injury in time for the game so Marland is in the group coming back tomorrow [Wednesday]," head coach Stuart Lancaster said.
"Tom [Wood] is still sore from the weekend and sat out training so we are including five back rows to give us options before we announce the side on Thursday."
Centre Kyle Eastmond has been cleared to face South Africa at Twickenham, after overcoming a bout of illness.
Rugby League convert Eastmond, 25, started in England's loss to New Zealand last Saturday, but then came down with diarrhoea.
However, he was able to play a full part in training on Tuesday.
"Kyle was a bit ill, but he's fully fit now," assistant coach Mike Catt said.
Had Eastmond not recovered in time to face South Africa, Lancaster was reportedly prepared to move Owen Farrell to inside centre and select George Ford at flyhalf.
But while Catt believes a Farrell-Ford axis could work well, he feels that Eastmond deserves a second chance against the Springboks.
"At the moment Kyle is doing all right alongside Owen," Catt said.
"Kyle got some good hits in against New Zealand. He looked confident and we expect a big performance this weekend, too.
"Picking Owen and George would mean two ball-playing flyhalves in the team. From my experiences of playing with Jonny Wilkinson, it works if you want to play a particular game.
"They are both still very young and the beauty about those two is that it's all about the team. It is not about them as individuals.
"They have one hell of a relationship, but we will obviously address it when it needs to be addressed. If picking them is what's best for the team, then I am sure Stuart will do it."
After announcing 24 players to return to Pennyhill Park on Wednesday, to complete preparations for South Africa, the England head coach, Lancaster, said the players have responded well to last week's.
Players returning to their Premiership clubs include Calum Clark, Lee Dickson, Alex Goode, Jonathan Joseph, Graham Kitchener, Jack Nowell, Semesa Rokoduguni, Henry Thomas, Billy Twelvetrees and Richard Wigglesworth.
Lancaster will announce his team to face South Africa on Thursday.
England squad:
Forwards: Dave Attwood, Kieran Brookes, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Matt Mullan, David Wilson, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola, Rob Webber, Tom Wood.
Backs: Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Kyle Eastmond, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonny May, Anthony Watson, Marland Yarde, Ben Youngs.
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT; 16.30 SA time)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France),Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Tom Wood and Calum Clark on the player diary
