Centre worries for England boss Ashton

Jamie Noon
13 April 2012

England ran into double centre trouble on Sunday with Jamie Noon and Shane Geraghty pulling out of Premiership matches, leaving their fitness in doubt for Saturday's match against France in Paris.

Noon made an 11th hour withdrawal from Newcastle's home win over Saracens because of a tight hamstring.

Geraghty, the 21-year-old fly half who had been added to the squad at the end of last week, limped out of London Irish's win over Leicester with a damaged knee.

"Shane hyper-extended his knee and the swelling continued so we took him off as a precautionary measure," Irish coach Toby Booth said.

"England will work in conjunction with our medical team before making a decision about next weekend."

Noon, who had been recalled against Italy in Rome last week, will have a fitness test within the next 48 hours.

"Jamie was incredibly close to playing and we expect him to be fine for the international."

Newcastle rugby director John Fletcher said: "If this had been a cup final, I have no doubt he would have played."

How many changes England make after last week's unsatisfactory performance is complicated by the uncertainty over at least two more players.

Andrew Sheridan has still to be given a clean bill of health after being forced out of the Italy match because of a blood infection and Paul Sackey missed Wasps' 42-34 win at Bath because of a damaged thumb.

Josh Lewsey, declared surplus to Six Nation's requirements, reinforced his claim for a return with two tries.

Unless head coach Brian Ashton does a rapid U-turn, Lewsey will continue to be on the outside looking in when England return to Paris, the scene of his last international, which he marked with the decisive try before injury denied him a second successive World Cup final.

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