Shoulder injury brings Sheridan’s World Cup to premature finish

Sheridan will return home for treatment, subject to final approval from the tournament’s medical director, and will be replaced in England’s 30-man squad.

England manager Martin Johnson has yet to decide on the identity of Sheridan’s replacement.

Sheridan, who had just returned from reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder, injured the left one in England’s opening World Cup win against Argentina.

The Sale loosehead prop has undergone two operations on that shoulder since dislocating it in October 2009.

Scans were sent back to the UK for the specialists who have operated on him in the past to determine the full extent of the problem. England received confirmation that Sheridan’s injury was significant enough for him to be sent home. Under tournament rules he then cannot return.

Johnson said: “It’s really sad for Sheri. He has been unlucky with injuries and we wish him all the best for his recovery. We brought five props so we have options there and we can bring another player out but we will decide what to do about that in due course.”

Northampton prop Paul Doran-Jones and Wasps’ Tim Payne are the leading options to replace Sheridan having been included in England’s initial 45-man training squad.

Johnson also confirmed England anticipate squad captain Lewis Moody will be available to face Georgia. He has not played since limping out of England’s first World Cup warm-up international with knee ligament damage.

Sheridan’s injury completed a bad day for England, who had Courtney Lawes suspended for two matches at a disciplinary hearing in Auckland.

Lawes was found guilty of striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee and he will miss the Pool B matches against Georgia, on Sunday, and Romania.

Johnson was disappointed by the verdict and is mulling over whether to appeal, although the early indication from the England camp was that they would accept the judgment.

“He has dived in to make what he thinks is a try-saving tackle and we thought any contact with the knees was incidental to him trying to do that in a fast-paced game,” said Johnson. “They obviously saw it a little bit differently.”

In choosing five props and four locks in his initial 30-man squad, Johnson does at least have resources to cover the loss of Sheridan and Lawes leading into the Georgia game.

Alex Corbisiero is likely to start at loosehead prop although Matt Stevens, normally a tighthead, could press his claims after playing on the left side for Saracens.

Johnson was planning on rotating his squad to face Georgia anyway in order to give a start to as many of his squad as possible.