England prop Andrew Sheridan was ruled out of the team on Thursday to play world champions South Africa at Twickenham this weekend.

The Sale front-row, included in the original line-up to take on the Springboks, has now been rested from Saturday's match following the neck injury he sustained during last weekend's 28-14 loss at home to Australia.

In the only change to the England matchday 22, announced by Martin Johnson on Tuesday, Wasps prop Tim Payne takes Sheridan's loosehead place in the starting line-up with the bench unaltered.

A statement issued Thursday by England's Rugby Football Union said that "it's anticipated that Andrew Sheridan will be available for selection for the New Zealand match on November 29".

Sheridan, whose scrummaging prowess came under strain against Australia, has been on "modified training" all week.

He was withdrawn after failing to play a full part during England's scrum-practice on Thursday.

Payne, winning his ninth Test cap, last played for England in June, away to New Zealand. There too he was deputising for Sheridan, who on that occasion had suffered a cut to the eye.

The Twickenham match against the All Blacks marks the ends of England's series of home November internationals and will be their last Test before they the 2009 Six Nations starts in February.

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