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Vickery banned. -- PHOTO: AP
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LONDON - ENGLAND'S attempt to retain their Rugby World Cup crown is playing out like a Shakespearean tragedy.
Their fate is seemingly doomed by injury, suspension and illness. As the treatment room gets busier, they have no recognised playmaker or a goal-kicker, while their captain is banned.
Now, the scene is set for self-destruction in tomorrow's crunch Pool A match against tournament second-favourites South Africa.
England will be without their suspended captain, Phil Vickery. He will be replaced by Matt Stevens tomorrow, with Perry Freshwater making up the numbers on the bench.
Martin Corry will captain the team, after the Rugby Football Union decided against appealing Vickery's two-match ban for tripping United States centre Paul Emerick.
He skippered the country in 14 Tests before being replaced by Vickery for the Six Nations Championship in February.
In the remodelled back row, he will operate as the blindside flanker, with Nick Easter at No 8, reported The Independent.
Coach Brian Ashton explained: 'This is a unit selected specifically for this game, which might be dominated by what happens at the line-out.
'We feel it is important to have a big presence there, and Martin fits the bill.'
England also do not have a recognised playmaker or a goal-kicker, after losing Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley to training injuries in successive weeks.
Yesterday, they confirmed that Andy Farrell will wear the fly-half's jersey for the first time since switching from rugby league.
Hip-injury victim Barkley, Wilkinson's deputy and the only bright spark from their 28-10 struggle over the US, was ruled out after a scan revealed a muscle strain.
The playmaker's condition will be updated next week. Wilkinson twisted his right ankle, and was not included in the 22-man squad.
Ashton made no effort at concealing his frustration: 'As usual with England injuries, there was no one near either of them.
'In situations like this, you wouldn't mind if there had been 10 people kicking hell out of them.'
Now, he has to get Farrell kicking - fast. The 32-year-old has played at centre and in the back row since switching from rugby league in March 2005.
But his rugby union career has been plagued by injury.
He has played just six matches for England - all at centre. And his experience of playing fly-half in rugby union consists of one game for Saracens 11 months ago.
But Farrell insisted he is ready to take on the responsibility for the country's biggest game since the 2003 World Cup final.
The match in Paris will probably decide who tops the pool. The runners-up could face two-time winners Australia in the quarter-finals, and have to overcome the All Blacks to reach the Oct 20 final.
Farrell told BBC Online on Tuesday: 'The last few weeks, the 10s and 12s have all been swopping in and out anyway, and we share the workload and responsibility.
'The way Brian likes to play, he likes his No10 and No12 to control the game between them. There is not that much difference, just a bit more responsibility at No 10.
'When Olly went off during training on Tuesday, Mike Catt and I just sorted it out between ourselves.'
He will also carry the burden of being the principal goal-kicker.
His pedigree with the boot in rugby league is unquestioned - 1,042 goals in 230 Super League appearances for Wigan.
But his last kick at goal in a Test match was for Britain three years ago.
'I've been practising for a couple of weeks and been striking the ball well,' said Farrrell. 'It is a matter of getting into a groove and getting some consistency.'
But time is a luxury England do not have, as they adjust constantly to injuries plaguing their best assets.
Jason Robinson will play at fullback, with Paul Sackey moved to left wing from the right, where he usually plays for his club, Wasps.
A reward or a sting in the tail awaits his gamble.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, BLOOMBERG NEWS
England v South Africa
Live, Ch24, Saturday, 2.55am
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