Injury rules Joubert out of Twickenham test

Springbok centre Marius Joubert has flown home after a shoulder injury ruled him out of any role in Saturday's Test against England at Twickenham.

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli had already ruled Joubert out of a starting place having named Butch James and Robbie Fleck as his two centres.

But he had been hopeful Joubert would recover sufficiently to take his place on the bench.

"It has been a very disappointing tour for Marius. He got on against France, took a knock to his left shoulder and has struggled for the past 10 days," the Springbok coach said.

"The medical team did everything they could to get him right for the match against England. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to make a call."

The South African management will not call up any backline cover at this stage, with Adrian Jacobs, the only other centre option on tour, acting as back-up to James and Fleck.

Joubert's return to South Africa brings the number of players who have been forced out of the tour because of injury to five.

Centre Jean de Villiers, props Willie Meyer and Lawrence Sephaka and scrum-half Neil de Kock went home after the French Test defeat.

Straeuli added: "We have had bad luck with injuries on this tour, but in the Tri-Nations we had good luck.

"We are not the only southern hemisphere side that has been hard hit with injuries. New Zealand have lost a few players and Australia have lost half a dozen.

"Willie and Jean were sent home to have operations and Neil was sent home to rest after fracturing his ribs. Nothing could be done for them on tour.

"The medical team worked hard to get Lawrence (ankle) and Marius (shoulder) fit, but neither responded well enough.

"There would be no gain for the player or the squad to keep them here." - Sapa-AFP