Medics say early return could risk Jonny's career

The extent of the damage eliminated any realistic hope of a swift recovery before next week's World Cup pool decider against South Africa and prompted one orthopaedic surgeon to warn that it could take six weeks, effectively knocking him out of the entire tournament which starts tomorrow and finishes seven weeks later.

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The diagnosis of a damaged ligament in his right ankle cast a cloud in the blue skies above the stately hotel near the Palace of Versailles where the holders are gearing up for Saturday's opening skirmish against the United States in Lens.

"If we are praying, I can imagine he would be fit within three weeks," said Simon Moyes, of the Wellington Hospital in west London, who specialises in ankle surgery.

"But it is more likely to be six weeks with an injury like this. Ninety per cent of patients make a full recovery but there is always a risk of recurrent instability in the ankle."

England's medical team will work overtime, giving Wilkinson six days' intensive treatment before making a further decision next Tuesday, 24 hours after they had been scheduled to name their team against the Springboks.

They have put that back 24 hours in the faint hope that the fly half symbol of their world-beating campaign four years ago will be fit, but will take care not to rush him back until he has made a complete recovery.

"It would be a huge risk to come back from an ankle ligament injury too soon," said Ian Horsley, of the Back In Action physiotherapy programme.

"Jonny should know that he risks ruling himself out for a very long time if he plays on strained ankle ligaments.

"He simply shouldn't play against South Africa if he has a grade one ligament tear. It would be a very unwise thing to do.

"The recovery period is usually at least two weeks and the risk of coming back early is that you could do more damage.

"In such a physical game as rugby and in such an important position as fly half, you have to be able to run, turn, kick and tackle without worrying about the consequences.

"He will probably be targeted and if there is any associated damage with the injury, such as cartilage for example, then any over-compensation for his ankle would put a huge strain on the rest of his body."

As Wilkinson gritted his teeth for the struggle towards his umpteenth comeback, reserve hooker George Chuter summed up the feeling of the other 29 players.

"It is truly amazing how Jonny keeps coming back from these injuries," he said. "Lesser people would have quit long ago but then he's an amazing bloke with huge mental strength.

"I don't think this is particularly serious but he's had one injury after another. It must be terrible for him. I've twisted an ankle and it feels as if it's going to snap off your leg. I have nothing but admiration for the way he picks himself up.

"I can imagine how tough it is and the enormous sense of frustration. In his case you have to multiply the frustration factor by 10."

Newcastle's Toby Flood and Sale stand off Charlie Hodgson are on stand-by, each having missed the final cut for World Cup selection.

Head coach Brian Ashton faces the threat of a rising dilemma, acutely aware that the longer he has to wait for Wilkinson, the greater the risk that any injury to Olly Barkley, his one remaining specialist kicker, will leave him with nobody who has ever attempted to kick a goal at Test level.

Clearly, England will give Wilkinson three weeks which would see him back for the final pool match, against Tonga in Paris on September 28.

Changes to their squad cannot be made for a tactical reasons, only for injuries or illness.

Ashton can only hope and pray that Barkley stays fit throughout the Springbok match, which could come down to penalties.

For a country which has never been short of goalkickers, England's coaches must be wondering where they have suddenly all gone or, perhaps more appositely, what they have done with them.

Despite having been able to call upon the services of no fewer than 12 over the past three years, they now find themselves with one (Barkley) and a bit (Andy Farrell).

The other 10 fall into three categories, those who are injured or recovering from injury, those who have been declared surplus to requirements and those who missed the last two cuts as head coach Brian Ashton trimmed his squad from 47 to 30.

Wilkinson and Mike Tindall, who kicked two conversions in an ultimately losing cause against Australia two years ago, fall into the first.

Andy Goode, Alex King, Henry Paul, Dave Walder and Mark van Gisbergen are in the second.

Flood, Hodgson and Shane Geraghty of London Irish fall into the third.