Hill fit to play France

Fit again: Richard Hill

England received a massive boost today when flanker Richard Hill revealed he would be fit to face France in the Rugby World Cup semifinal here on Sunday.

Hill limped out of England's opening pool match against Georgia five weeks ago and the hamstring tear has refused to let him back on the pitch.

However, Hill said today: "I am fit and available for selection and now it's a case of waiting to see if they pick me.

"This is the longest time I've been out because of injury since my back operation in 1998 and it has been hugely frustrating.

"I've worked extremely hard with the medical team but there have been one or two moments when I have wondered what was going to happen to me. The management have stood by me and now I am ready to take part in full contact training this week."

Clive Woodward made it abundantly clear at the team's Manly base that he wants to draft Hill straight into the team despite the long lay off. The head coach was remarkably upbeat considering the long list of injuries that resulted from yesterday's quarter-final victory over Wales in Brisbane.

Leicester's Austin Healey flew out to Australia from Heathrow last night as cover for Josh Lewsey and Iain Balshaw, who are both struggling with leg injuries.

But Woodward is predicting that England could be in a position to name their strongest line-up for the first time in the tournament.

He said: "I have spoken to the doctor and I expect to be able name the team from a full strength squad on Wednesday. I'm very confident Richard Hill will be available.

"All the players currently injured should be available to me, especially Hilly. I can say that with confidence because of the change I've seen in his persona and the fact that he has been running around injury free since Friday."

England have so far failed to produce their best rugby and that was partly due to the absence of the irreplaceable Hill, who added: "If there had been an emergency I would have been able to play in yesterday's quarter-final.

"I'm really looking forward to getting on the pitch."

Woodward insisted that England would raise their game once "we get to put out our strongest XV".

He said: "We're not at our best yet but on form we deserve to be here and we now need to move up a gear.

"We haven't come here to be second or third - we've come here to win it."

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