Woodward's tour plans hit by injury

England manager Clive Woodward's preparations for the tour of Argentina were further hampered by another spate of withdrawals over the weekend.

Already without the services of several recuperating Lions and a number of first-choice players who are undergoing surgery and treatment, Woodward will now have to cope with the loss of Leicester's centre-cum-wing Leon Lloyd (neck), Wasps lock Simon Shaw (neck) and his club team-mate Josh Lewsey (wrist).

Most cruel of all was the fate of Gloucester second row Ed Pearce. Having been called in to replace Shaw, he promptly injured an ankle in the Zurich Championship Final win over Bristol on Saturday and was himself forced to pull out.

Rob Fidler, his Gloucester colleague, will take his place while Newcastle centre Tom May has also been added to the inexperienced tour party.