Toby Flood hands England timely fitness boost ahead of South Africa tour

Toby Flood came through a full training session with England yesterday to prove he is fit for the tour of South Africa.

The Leicester stand-off has been sidelined since damaging his ankle against Bath on 5 May and he was withdrawn from the Aviva Premiership final on Saturday with a tight groin.

But Flood looked sharp as the England touring squad were put through their attacking paces ahead of today’s departure for Durban.

Flood, who has not started a Test at No 10 since the World Cup game against Georgia, will compete with Owen Farrell and Charlie Hodgson for the position in England’s three-Test series.

It was not all good news for England coach Stuart Lancaster yesterday, after prop Matt Stevens was ruled out of the tour with a shoulder injury suffered in Sunday’s win against the Barbarians. Stevens damaged his rotator cuff and has been replaced in the squad by Gloucester tight-head Rupert Harden, who was preparing to leave for Berlin on a friend’s stag do when he received the call-up.

The 26-year-old played for the Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds and Scotland A in January and he has established himself as the Cherry and Whites’ first-choice tight-head prop this season.

Harden did not arrive at Pennyhill Park until yesterday afternoon and his first training run finished with a gruelling session on the altitude bike to prepare him for South Africa. Stevens may not require an operation but the injury requires four weeks of rehabilitation.

Lancaster said: “It’s really tough on Matt but he has been assessed by the medics and he wouldn’t be able to train or play for some time. We wish him all the best but it’s a great opportunity for Rupert, who has been the first-choice tight-head for Gloucester this season and also involved in the Saxons during the Six Nations.”

The loss of Stevens leaves Lancaster with a selection conundrum for the Test series, given the Saracens prop is capable of covering both sides of the front row.

Northampton’s Paul Doran-Jones, while primarily a tight-head, can perform the same role but that would potentially mean one of Alex Corbisiero, England incumbent loosehead, or the in-form Joe Marler missing out on the Test squad.

Meanwhile, Wales lock Ian Evans can vividly remember the moment he told his future bride that he would be going on a rugby tour rather than honeymoon.

“I made a run for it out into the kitchen and then waited for the pans to come flying through,” said Evans, who will marry fiance Angharad on the Greek island of Santorini next week.

The following morning, though, after formal marriage papers have been signed, Evans will fly to Melbourne via Athens and Dubai, joining Wales’ Australia tour squad while his wedding party spend a few more days enjoying the Greek sunshine.

It was obviously not meant to be that way, but Ospreys forward Evans has now become an integral part of the Wales set-up following his outstanding displays during their recent RBS Six Nations and Grand Slam triumph.

Evans will miss the first Test between Wales and Australia in Brisbane on 9 June, yet he should be challenging for a place the following weekend – assisted by an extremely understanding partner.

“We chose the wedding date more than a year ago,” Evans said. “My partner is a teacher, and she has next week off with it being half-term.

“It [clash of dates] probably dawned on me during the Six Nations, but I spoke with [Wales head coach] Warren Gatland and he was fully understanding.

“Warren has always said that family comes before rugby, and he has given me his full backing.”

This time last year, Evans was just concentrating on re-establishing himself with the Ospreys following a demoralising run of injuries.

But the 27-year-old resumed his Test career earlier this season after a lengthy absence, and his subsequent Six Nations form warranted rave reviews both in Wales and beyond.

“At the time we chose the wedding date, I was just getting back into it with the Ospreys after injury,” Evans added.

“A lot of things have changed from January onwards, really, which have been really positive in my rugby career.

“It has all been a bit of a whirlwind. If you had said to me at the start of this season how it would end, I would have laughed at you.

“I’ve had a bit of luck, which everyone needs, and things have progressed really well. It has been a little overwhelming, really.”