Clive Woodward last night paid tribute to England's ''world class'' medical team after he announced a full-strength team for Saturday's Subiaco Oval showdown against South Africa.

England's injury fears for the pivotal Pool C clash have eased dramatically after an uncertain start to the week.

Scrum-halves Matt Dawson, Kyran Bracken and Andy Gomarsall have all recovered from various ailments.

Dawson, whose hamstring problem has been subjected to intensive physiotherapy, will start against the Springboks, with Bracken on the bench and Gomarsall waiting in the wings if there is need for a late change.

As a result, Bath scrum-half Martyn Wood will return home tomorrow after being in Australia for just three days as precautionary injury cover.

England's other initial fitness worries - centre Mike Tindall and flanker Richard Hill - are also fit and will take their places in an unchanged side against South Africa.

The only player that Woodward did not consider was lock Danny Grewcock, who has a broken toe, but even he will play through the pain barrier if anything happens to Martin Johnson, Ben Kay or Martin Corry.

In the aftermath of last Sunday's 84-6 victory over Georgia, it seemed improbable that Woodward could retain the same starting XV, but he has achieved that while making two changes on the bench in calling up Corry and Leicester hooker Dorian West.

''We have got a world class medical team - they are very experienced people,'' Woodward said.

''The medical people have been working 20 hours a day, so they have obviously worked very, very hard. They are very happy and so am I with the situation.''

Woodward rated Dawson only a 50-50 prospect just a few days ago, but he has no doubt that everyone is now fit and firing on all cylinders. ''I am very confident. I speak to the doctor and I speak to the player and I go with what they say,'' Woodward added.

''We've got to go with 22 players who are 100 per cent fit. There are no fitness tests planned and, to be honest, this week's situation has been no different to what normally happens between two Test matches that are just six days apart.

''We are not taking any risks. This is not a game to be taking risks.''

England know victory is essential against South Africa otherwise they will be hurtling towards a probable quarter-final with New Zealand in Melbourne on November 8.

But if the RBS 6 Nations champions win, then it is virtually certain that neither New Zealand nor Australia will block their path to next month's World Cup final in Sydney.

England were knocked out of the 1999 World Cup by South Africa when Springboks fly-half Jannie de Beer dropped a world record five drop goals as Woodward's men were thumped 44-21 in Paris.

''This is the biggest game since Paris four years ago - we are fully aware of that and we are preparing accordingly,'' Woodward said.

''While you don't look too much at the opposition, this game was always going to be a great fixture.

''It is a great match-up between two great rugby countries and that is what the World Cup should be about.

''We've had a lot of games since 1999 and while we learned a lot of lessons from that day, there is nothing that will reflect on what we are going to do on Saturday.''

Saturday's encounter will inevitably evoke vivid memories of last November at Twickenham when the countries met in a match that was scarred by South African violence.

England romped to a record 53-3 victory yet the game will be remembered for the sending off of Springboks lock Jannes Labuschagne and numerous other unsavoury incidents.