Dowson forced off bench by injury 0
The England team have been forced to make a change to the bench for the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday, with Phil Dowson, the loose forward cover, ruled out due to injury.
According to a statement released by the England management on Friday, Dowson is suffering from a tight hamstring after the training session on Thursday and the medical staff decided to withdraw him from the match 22.
Dowson’s place amongst the replacements is taken by the uncapped, New Zealand-born Thomas Waldrom, who was the man of the match in the midweek victory over the Southern Barbarians in Kimberley.
The 29-year-old former Hurricanes and Crusaders player showed exactly the sort of power and physicality at eighthman that England will need against the Springboks if they are to keep the series alive on Saturday, after losing the first Test 17-22 in Durban last weekend.