Benched

Wilkinson, Honiball sidelined for quarterfinal

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Posted: Friday October 22, 1999 06:50 PM

Jonny Wilkinson kicked 32 points against Italy and 23 against Fiji. Gary M. Prior/Allsport

PARIS (AP) -- England's Jonny Wilkinson and South Africa's fit-again Henry Honiball will both be on the bench for Sunday's quarterfinal between England and South Africa.

England coach Clive Woodward preferred Paul Grayson to Wilkinson for the No. 10 jersey, and has made four other changes to the side that beat Fiji in Wednesday's playoff.

Center Phil de Glanville replaces Mike Catt in the other midfield change. In the pack, locks Danny Grewcock and Richard Hill replace Garath Archer and Joe Worsley, and Matt Dawson comes in for Austin Healey at scrumhalf.

The Springboks have made just one enforced change to their side, with the experienced Pieter Muller coming in for suspended center Brendan Venter.

Wilkinson and Healey went off with injuries against Fiji. But Woodward suggested his changes were tactical rather than enforced, saying all his squad is "fine and fully fit."

Grayson set a new England record of 36 points in the group match against Tonga and is more experienced than his younger Newcastle rival, who missed some vital kicks in the defeat against the All Blacks.

But after Wilkinson kicked 32 points against Italy and 23 against Fiji, Woodward admitted that choosing between the two playmakers would be "a difficult call."

Wing Dan Luger and fullback Matt Perry, who also picked up knocks against Fiji, were declared fit.

Springbok coach Nick Mallett welcomes back the influential Honiball who has yet to make an appearance at the World Cup after suffering a hamstring strain on the eve of the opener against Scotland. But Honiball is on the bench and Jannie de Beer keeps his starting place for the fourth time in the championship.

Honiball has not played a test since South Africa's defeat at Twickenham last December.

Venter received a 21-day ban for stamping on Uruguayan flanker Martin Panizza in the group stages.

Mallett says Sunday's encounter at the Stade de France has come too early in the tournament.

 

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