SAINTS forward Phil Dowson has been forced to pull out of England’s second Test against South Africa with a hamstring injury.
The back rower, who had been named on the bench for the clash in Johannesburg, suffered the injury in training and withdrew after assessment last night.
His place in the squad will be taken by Leicester’s Thomas Waldrom, who scored two tries and was named man of the match in the midweek win over the Southern Barbarians in Kimberley.
The 29-year-old will now have the chance to earn his first cap as England seek to level the three-match series against the Springboks at Coca-Cola Park.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster used all seven of his replacements during the first Test loss in Durban, with Dowson coming on as a 62nd-minute replacement for number eight Ben Morgan.
The news is the latest fitness blow for England, who have lost full-back Mike Brown for the rest of the series with a thumb injury.
Centre Brad Barritt is out of the second Test after surgery on a lacerated eyeball while winger Ugo Monye has missed out on a possible recall this week because of a tight hamstring.
Dowson’s withdrawal means that Lee Dickson is now the only Saints player on the bench, while Ben Foden and Dylan Hartley start,