Wilkinson to undergo treatment

Updated 13.11 Wed Sep 05 2007
Keywords: Jonny Wilkinson, World Cup, England, sport, rugby

Jonny Wilkinson is to undergo intensive treatment in a bid to help him get fit for the World Cup.

The talismanic fly-half has been ruled out of the opening game of England's defence of the Webb Ellis trophy against the USA in Lens on Saturday.

Jonny Wilkinson suffered a ligament sprain in his ankle while training with the rest of Brian Ashton's World Cup squad in Versailles

He suffered a ligament sprain, rather than a twisted ankle as was first thought, while training with the rest of Brian Ashton's World Cup squad in Versailles.

Ashton will be hoping Wilkinson will be able to overcome the injury ahead of the world champions' pivotal Pool A clash with south Africa a week on Friday.

The England number ten shirt will be filled by Bath's Olly Barkley this weekend.

No further update is expected on Wilkinson's condition until next Tuesday but it would seem that he is facing a race against time to be fit to line up against the Springboks.

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