England draft in Payne for injured Sheridan

LONDON (Reuters) - England prop Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out of Saturday's game against South Africa with a neck injury and Tim Payne has been drafted straight into the starting team, the Rugby Football Union said on Thursday.

Sheridan suffered the injury against Australia last weekend and will be rested as a precaution. He is expected to be fit for England's final autumn test against New Zealand on Nov 29.

Payne will start at loosehead, leaving Matt Stevens, who can cover both sides of the scrum, on the bench.

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Miles Evans)