Rugby World Cup: England worries mount as Vickery given ban

Sep 12 2007 by Andrew Baldock, Liverpool Daily Post

ENGLAND’S World Cup captain Phil Vickery has been banned for two matches, dealing the Webb Ellis Trophy holders another damaging blow.

Wasps prop Vickery was cited for kicking USA centre Paul Emerick during last Saturday’s Pool A game in Lens.

Vickery was summoned to appear before World Cup judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar in Paris yesterday and, after a three-hour hearing, the suspension was imposed.

It means Vickery will miss England’s crunch clash with South Africa at the Stade de France on Friday night plus the appointment with Samoa in Nantes on Saturday week.

The England camp have 48 hours to decide on a possible appeal, but at this stage it looks as though Vickery will be replaced in the starting line-up by Bath’s Matt Stevens.

England will consider an appeal against Vickery’s sentence, but it is another huge blow during a troubled start to their World Cup defence.

England have only been in France for 10 days, but they have already seen fly-halves Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley suffer injuries, in addition to Vickery’s citing and a dismal performance in beating America 28-10.

Defeat against South Africa would realistically mean England would need to beat Samoa to avoid the humiliating prospect of a pool stage exit.

In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s game, Vickery insisted there was no malice intended in the challenge on Emerick, which went unnoticed and unpunished by match referee Jonathan Kaplan.

However, Professor Crerar decided it was a deliberate act that was delivered with some force.

England head coach Brian Ashton has already named his side for Friday’s clash, with the probable promotions of Stevens sending him into battle against the country of his birth.

An England statement read: “The England rugby squad can confirm that captain Phil Vickery has been suspended for two matches with immediate effect.

“There are 48 hours in which to appeal the decision, and consideration is being given to that.

“In the circumstances as they presently stand, Bath prop Matt Stevens will take Phil Vickery’s place in the starting XV against South Africa on Friday, with Perry Freshwater joining the replacement’s bench. In the same circumstances, consideration will be given to the position of captaincy for this game.”

Mike Catt, who led England in their RBS Six Nations games against France and Wales last season, is favourite to take over leadership duties. Catt, who will be 36 next Sunday, is currently at inside centre for the Springboks clash. But if Barkley, who has a hip problem, is ruled out – a decision is expected today – then Catt could move to the number 10 shirt for his first England start in that position since the 1999 Five Nations defeat against Wales at Wembley.

Ashton said: “Olly strained a hip flexor in training this morning.

“He is going for a scan that will determine the extent of the injury, and a decision will be made tomorrow morning whether or not he can take part in Friday night’s game.”