Strettle makes an early exit
David Strettle has become the latest player to make an early exit from England’s ill-fated tour of South Africa, after failing sufficiently to recover from the illness that laid low many of the touring squad.
Strettle spent several days in a Johannesburg hospital for rehydration treatment after contracting an airborne stomach virus that swept through the tourists last week.
He was discharged over the weekend, but he was not fit enough to be in contention for the second Springboks clash this weekend.
Strettle’s name is thus added to Gloucester pair Iain Balshaw (shin) and Nick Wood (torn chest muscle), both of whom have already returned home from the ill-fated tour.
England captain Jason Robinson, meanwhile, says he will be fit for the weekend despite missing training in Centurion on Tuesday, and Jonny Wilkinson trained as usual, as did Andy Farrell and Peter Richards who also fell foul of the stomach bug.
Andy Hazell also sat out Tuesday training with a knee injury, as did James Simpson-Daniel who was feeling ill.
