Team News:England's World Cup captain Phil Vickery has been suspended for two matches after being found guilty of kicking USA centre Paul Emerick during last Saturday's Pool A game in Lens.
It means the prop will miss England's crunch clash with South Africa at the Stade de France on Friday night plus the appointment with Samoa in Nantes on Saturday week.
It is another huge blow for the World champions after it was confirmed today that outhalf Jonny Wilkinson was again unavailable for selection because of an ankle injury, while his immediate replacement Olly Barkley limped out of training today with a hip problem.
Barkley is starting at number 10 against the Springboks for now, but a scan on his hip may well rule him out. A decision is expected tomorrow.
Wasps prop Vickery was summoned to appear before World Cup judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar in Paris today and, after a three-hour hearing, the suspension was imposed.
The England camp have 48 hours to decide on a possible appeal, but at this stage it looks as though Vickery will be replaced in the starting line-up by Bath's Matt Stevens. Perry Freshwater will take his place among the replacements.
Mike Catt (36), who led England in their Six Nations games against France and Wales last season, is favourite to take over leadership duties from Vickery and should Barkley be ruled out, he will also move to number 10 from inside centre for the Springboks match.
It will be the first time he has played at outhalf for England since the 1999 Five Nations defeat against Wales at Wembley.
In the immediate aftermath of Saturday's game, Vickery insisted there was no malice intended in the challenge on Emerick, which went unnoticed and unpunished by match referee Jonathan Kaplan.
However, Professor Crerar decided it was a deliberate act that was delivered with some force.
Vickery was accompanied at the hearing in central Paris by England's legal representative, Richard Smith QC.
An England statement read: "The England Rugby squad can confirm that captain Phil Vickery has been suspended for two matches with immediate effect.
"There are 48 hours in which to appeal the decision, and consideration is being given to that.
"In the circumstances as they presently stand, Bath prop Matt Stevens will take Phil Vickery's place in the starting XV against South Africa on Friday, with Perry Freshwater joining the replacement's bench.
"In the same circumstances, consideration will be given to the position of captaincy for this game."
England XV v South Africa:J Robinson (unattached); J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps); O Barkley (Bath), S Perry (Bristol); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Regan (Bristol), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements:G Chuter (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), A Farrell (Saracens).
