There appears to be no end to the calamities befalling England as they prepare for their vital rugby union World Cup match against South Africa tomorrow. The news they had been dreading was confirmed yesterday when Olly Barkley’s hip injury ruled him out of contention, meaning that England will be deprived of their first and second-choice players in the pivotal No 10 position.

Having decided that it would have been too much of a gamble to risk Jonny Wilkinson’s injured right ankle, England will start tomorrow’s crucial pool A match at the Stade de France in Paris with Andy Farrell at fly half — a position he has not played in a first-class game since he converted from rugby league two years ago.

Farrell, 32, has convinced few people outside the England management that his code-crossing has not come too late in his career. He is thus being given an opportunity to make a considerable statement tomorrow, although it would probably help his cause if he was neither playing in a position with which he is so unfamiliar, nor lumped with the responsibilities that he has not had to shoulder in an international for three years.

England may feel relieved that South Africa have taken a few knocks, too. Jean de Villiers, the centre, will not play in the tournament again after injuring a bicep and Schalk Burger, the influential flanker, has been banned for four games for a dangerous tackle in their match against Samoa.

However, these blows seem minor compared with those suffered by the world champions. Brian Ashton, the England head coach, could not have expected to have lost his two fly halves in such quick succession, although his decision not to select Toby Flood in the squad is looking increasingly exposed.

There has been no call-up for Flood yet because the injuries to Wilkinson and Barkley are expected to mend in time for them to play an influential role later in the campaign, although England’s hopes of progressing beyond the quarter-finals would seem to hinge on beating the Springboks and avoiding a probable meeting with Australia in the last eight.

“We’ve all seen how well South Africa are playing and we know what type of performance we are going to need to make sure we match them,” Martin Corry, named yesterday as captain in place of the suspended Phil Vickery, said. “What we’ve been lacking is the consistency of our performance. We know it’s there, we’ve just got to make sure we produce it.”