England Six Nations update

England faces injury crisis before Eddie Jones’s side begin defense of RBS6 Nations title

England manager Eddie Jones must have his fingers crossed that his side are not further depleted over the next 10 days. Going into the Rugby Six Nations championship next month, England have increasing fitness concerns with about one-half of their side missing match practice ahead of the defending champions’ opening game against France at Twickenham on February 4. England manager Eddie Jones is faced with the dilemma of being without more than half of his starting pack when England host France on February 4th with Joe Marier out, Chris Robshaw out, the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy ruled out, and question marks over George Kruis, Joe Launchbury and James Haskell.

Loosehead Joe Marier is England’s latest casualty. Prop Marier will miss the start of the Six Nations tournament due to a broken leg injury he sustained in warm-up. Marier will be on the sidelines for 4-5 weeks following confirmation that he fractured his leg. England’s injury problems are mounting up with less than a month before manager Eddie Jones’s side begin the defense of their 2016 RBS 6 Nations trophy. Lock George Kruis will not play any club rugby before Six Nations. And England’s Chris Robshaw is ruled out for 12 weeks and will miss Six Nations entirely while the Harlequins flanker undergoes surgery on his shoulder on Monday. Robshaw reinjured his shoulder in a Harlequins’ New Year’s Day defeat by Worcester. After meeting with a specialist on Monday, Robshaw confirmed the need for surgery which will sideline the blindside flanker for 12 weeks.

Robshaw aggravated a shoulder injury in Harlequins’ New Year’s Day defeat by Worcester and a meeting with a specialist on Monday confirmed the need for surgery. Quins expect the blindside flanker will spend 12 weeks on the sidelines. Robshaw had hoped to play for England and help defend their Six Nations silverware, stating that his shoulder “feels fine in everyday life, but rugby isn’t everyday life” last week. However Robshaw will be out of action until April. The 30-year-old blindside flanker had relinquished the captaincy last year but is still a crucial figure for Jones after starting 12 of the 13 victories achieved by England since Jones took charge, missing only the end-of-season friendly against Wales. “Chris is a massive ‘glue’ player who does the unseen work,” said Jones. “He is a really strong, consistent player and is a massive leader for us in an informal sense.”

Robshaw is now denied the chance to shine during the upcoming Six Nations championship that will no doubt influence the makeup of Warren Gatland’s squad for the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand next summer. Robshaw was previously overlooked by Gatland in 2013 for a competitive back row position in the touring party. To take Robshaw’s place, Jack Clifford, Robshaw’s Harlequins team-mate, is a consideration for England at blindside but he missed Saturday’s 29-26 victory over Sale after suffering a concussion against Worcester. Marler withdrew from the match against Sale before kick-off with a calf injury. Mako Vunipola is out with a knee injury, Billy Vunipola also has a knee injury and his fellow Saracens forward Kruis is recovering from a fractured cheekbone. Jones’s options for loosehead are limited. Jones hinted that Maro Itoje, who missed England’s Autumn Internationals tournament with a hand injury, may make the switch from second row to blindside. Tom Wood is a contender for the position that he occupied in England’s embarrassing 2015 World Cup campaign. Northampton’s Teimana Harrison is an option, along with the uncapped Josh Beaumont and Mike Williams.

Haskell has only played 35 seconds in his first appearance since June on Sunday in the Wasps’ victory over Leicester, leaving the game with a head injury shortly after coming off the bench. Haskell must undergo the return-to-play protocols, meaning an appearance for Wasps in the Champions Cup against Toulouse on Saturday is unlikely. Elliot Daly was also withdrawn in the match against Leicester with a head injury and Launchbury suffered a calf strain. Hartley’s six-week ban will leave him short of game time when France arrive at Twickenham. Saracens Brad Barritt and Richard Barrington have been charged for the incident during Saturday’s draw with Exeter Chiefs that left Geoff Parling requiring lengthy treatment before being carried off. Parling was hit in the jaw by Barritt’s swinging arm and Richard Barrington’s shoulder connected with his head. Barrington was sent off and is charged with dangerous charging. Barritt went unpunished but has been cited for dangerous high tackling. The hearings will take place on Tuesday.

“I just wanted to express my sincere apologies to Geoff and the Premiership fans watching on Saturday,” wrote Barritt in a message posted on Twitter. “No one likes seeing a fellow player injured and it’s even more disappointing when I’m involved. I take responsibility for my misjudgment and assure you no malice was intended.” Marler is recovering from a lower leg strain and a fracture has now been diagnosed. It means England are set to kick off against France without their two first-choice looseheads following a statement from Harlequins that Marler will be sidelined for four to five weeks. With Chris Robshaw, the Vunipola brothers and Manu Tuilagi already out with injury, word is that the lock forward George Kruis will not play any club rugby before the France Test, with James Haskell also set to miss Wasps’ weekend fixture against Toulouse in Coventry. Since Dylan Hartley is suspended for Northampton’s final two Champions Cup games.

Injured Saracens’ Kruis is unavailable to feature in their final pool game against Toulon next week. Kruis showed his fitness last autumn bouncing right back into Test action after missing a big chunk of club rugby in the weeks beforehand. Wasp’s flanker Haskell has played only 35 seconds since June and will likely miss his club’s game against Toulouse on Saturday, having taken a blow to the head shortly after coming on as a replacement in Sunday’s win over Leicester in Haskell’s first appearance in more than six months since he suffered a toe injury playing for England against Australia. “He’s probably doubtful, he’s still with the medics today,” said Wasp’s manager Dai Young. “I think he’d really have to tick all the boxes so it’s unlikely he’s going to be fit, although he’s not ruled out. We may decide later in the week that it is unwise for us to keep on waiting.”

Mako Vunipola may be ruled out of Six Nations entirely next week. “Mako will see his surgeon next week,” said McCall. “He is going to be, best case scenario, the end of February.” Saracens full-back Alex Goode received an ankle injury over the weekend. Saracens may call Maro Itoje back after fracturing his hand in the autumn. With Robshaw out, there is an option for England to shift Itoje to the blindside flank. “He’ll probably start this weekend in the second row but he played the last 30 minutes of the game against Exeter at blindside for us when Will Skelton came on and he’ll get a couple more run-outs in the back row in the next two weeks,” said McCall. “Maro is in very good form. Over the last four weeks, he’s been playing as well as ever. His contributions are enormous, with or without the ball. He makes a big impact, his energy is incredible, he makes things happen, he is really motivated. He’ll definitely play for England, just what position I’m not sure.”

A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel ruled Saracens prop Richard Barrington was sent off in error against Exeter last weekend. Sarries’ captain, Brad Barritt, has also been banned for three weeks despite initially avoiding any punishment for a dangerous high tackle on Geoff Parling. Barritt pleaded guilty and was banned for six weeks, reduced to three because of his contrition and good previous record. He will miss Saracens’ games against Scarlets and Toulon. “Following very careful analysis the panel found that Mr Barrington had not committed the act of foul play alleged,” read a statement. “The incident arose out of the specific dynamic of Mr. Parling falling unconscious into what would have otherwise been a legitimate contact.” McCall had insisted Barrington was innocent.

“If you take the time to actually watch what he did in detail, he’s in a passive and crouched position,” said McCall. “Unfortunately, Geoff’s head came a long way to the side and down. It happened in 0.18 seconds, so Richard couldn’t have adjusted and avoided it. For me it was just an accident.” England will spend most of the following week training in Portugal. Therefore second-row Kruis, who was sidelined with a fractured cheekbone, could be picked by Jones to play against France in the opener having not played a single minute of competitive rugby since Christmas Eve. “He’s going to be 100% fit for the Six Nations but he’s unlikely to play for us in the next two weeks,” said Mark McCall.

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