Sanderson calls for winning momentum

12 April 2012

England flanker Pat Sanderson has urged the world champions to build momentum - after ending a run of seven demoralising defeats - when they face South Africa in next weekend's second Twickenham Test.

However, Sanderson is also wary of a wounded Springboks side, who surrendered an 18-6 advantage and fell apart when fly-half talisman Butch James went off injured.

"There is an amount of relief, and we all feel we have relieved a little bit of the tension and we can build on this performance. We need to get a bit of momentum going," said Sanderson. "But South Africa will come back even harder next week, and it is not good enough for us just to win once and be happy."

He added: "We are about moving on and moving forward, and the true test is that we repeat the performance and get another win."

South Africa will be without James, flanker Pierre Spies and number eight Jacques Cronje on Saturday because of knee problems - with Gerrie Britz, Wikus van Heerden and sevens captain Kabamba Floors summoned as squad replacements.

England, though, have their own injury problems.

Sale Sharks pair Charlie Hodgson (knee) and Andrew Sheridan (ankle) both face further medical checks before head coach Andy Robinson's likely team announcement on Tuesday.

Neither player appears to have any realistic chance of recovering in time, but Robinson will probably make minimal changes following England's first Test victory since mid-February which was secured by second-half tries from wing Mark Cueto and replacement prop Phil Vickery.

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