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Article about Topsy Ojo in The Sun

From The Sun, 3rd June, 2008

We've got our Ojo working

ENGLAND will unleash their Top weapon in New Zealand after suffering another injury crisis.

Winger Topsy Ojo looks set to win his first cap against the All Blacks after Paul Sackey was ruled out with knee ligament damage just hours before the squad flew out last night.

World Cup star Sackey joins a host of crocks including Danny Cipriani, Phil Vickery and Jonny Wilkinson missing the two-Test series.

England face the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday week and Christchurch seven days later.

And London Irish flier Ojo, 22, reckons the Young Guns can spring a shock.

He said: “At first my main goal was just to enjoy the experience of going on tour.

"But hopefully now I can play a bigger part.

“I’m gutted for Paul because he’s a world-class wing. But it’s given me a great opportunity.

“It doesn’t get any better than winning your first cap against the All Blacks.

“We’ve got a young side but we’ll give it our best shot and hopefully put in a performance we can be proud of.”

Sackey played in Wasps Premiership triumph over Leicester on Saturday despite rupturing knee ligaments three weeks ago.

But his England KO means Toby Flood could be the only survivor from the back line that beat Ireland in the Six Nations finale two months ago.

Another of England’s World Cup players, Dan Hipkiss, also pulled out yesterday with a fractured cheekbone.

Wasps’ back Dominic Waldouck and Leicester winger Tom Varndell have been called up as cover.

Varndell, 22, was last season’s top Premiership try-scorer with 14 but admits he is only just getting over England’s last ‘tour from hell’ two years ago.

He said: “When I played my first England game I was fresh out of school. I got chucked on to the tour of Australia.

“We got humped and the learning process was brutal. It has taken two years but I’ve come back stronger.”

Kiwi-born Dylan Hartley hopes to win his first cap against the All Blacks — and insists he has cleaned up his act after a six-month ban for gouging.

The Northampton hooker, 21, missed the World Cup but came back to help Saints storm to the National League One title.

Hartley, 21, said: “After my ban it was good to keep my head down and sort out a few issues I had with my game.

“I could have gone off the rails. But I went the other way, worked hard and it’s paid off.”

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