England lock Courtney Lawes is set to miss the first few weeks of rugby’s Six Nations Championship because of an ankle injury, the Northampton second-rower’s club coach Jim Mallinder said on Sunday.
Mallinder, speaking after Northampton’s 20-9 European Cup win away to Welsh side Ospreys in Swansea, said Lawes would undergo surgery on Monday.
The coach indicated Lawes would miss England’s Six Nations opener away to Wales in Cardiff on February 6 and their Twickenham encounter with Italy the following week.
Lawes’ absence would deprive England coach Stuart Lancaster of both of his first-choice locks, with Wasps’ Joe Launchbury ruled out of the entire Six Nations after undergoing neck surgery.
The 25-year-old Lawes, who missed the Ospreys match, has not played since before Christmas when he suffered the injury against Leicester.
“Courtney, unfortunately, has not recovered from his ankle injury,” Mallinder said. “He will be going in for a little operation on Monday.
“He has got a little bit of bone that he just needs clearing out, so he is going to miss the first few weeks of the Six Nations, as well as missing next week (when Northampton face Racing Metro).
“He would be expected to get back (playing) while the Six Nations is still going on.
“It is a blow for us because we haven’t got him for next week, and it is a blow for him and England because he is a key player.”
After the first two rounds, the Six Nations takes a break before England face Ireland in Dublin on March 1.
Lawes’ career has been beset by injuries, with shoulder, shin, knee, groin and elbow problems restricting him to 36 England caps since he made his Test debut six years ago.
Lancaster is due to announce his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.
BlueBlood
Guest
Itoje was fantastic at the U20s and I was surprised we didn't hear more of him in the spring personally. Ive always liked croft for his explosiveness with ball in hand and line out abilities but I agree the Wood is showing class. The questions about the rest of your team are all trivial. You need the best tight 5 to win a world cup the rest is for showing off!
Birdy
Guest
Yes; Blueblood, Kruis is improving fast. There's also a kid called Itoje who was England's captain at the last U20 World Cup who most experts say is going to be special. He's starting to get into the Saracens 23 now. An embarrassment of riches in the front 5, but a number of questions elsewhere in the team. Croft is an enigma. He's always been very highly rated by the England management, but I think his stock's gone down lately. Wood is a guy that they love, so I'd be very surprised if Croft ousted him. He'd need a run of brilliant performances at club level and Wood would need to lose form. Not a huge amount of time for all that to happen before the World Cup.
ChrisT
Guest
'....Farrell isn't injured.' Spot on.
Harry Jones
Expert
Don't like Lawes, but he is very, very good mongrel man. A second row of Lawes-Launchberry with T Wood as blindside ... keeps rucks super clean!
m0b1us
Guest
Kitchener is much better than Kruis IMO - hopefully he'll get a look in now both Lawes and Launchbury are injured. Enlgand's injury list is now looking pretty ruinous again: Tuilagi might never be fit, Morgan has a broken leg, Foden has ruptured knee ligaments, Launch is not back until April at the very earliest, Cole still out (leg this time), Farrell isn't injured. Even the indestructible man/Terminator (Robshaw) has been injured recently.
JimmyB
Guest
You can take those two and keep those five, all we ask for in return is Julian Savea. How about it? Ok, you can have Dan Cole too.
BlueBlood
Guest
Birdy I also liked the look at Kruis too in the spring. What are the chances of Croft regaining the 6 ahead of Wood? You are most welcome to some of our backs but only if you send Longbottom back.
Not Bothered
Guest
NZ will trade you, Marler and Hartley for Nonu and Barrett. Interested? We will even through in Lealiifano, Cooper and Skelton for free.
Birdy
Guest
There's also Kitchener and Slade at lock. Brad Thorn who plays with Kitchener at Leicester said this week if Kitchener played in NZ he would be an AB by now. I'll make you a deal, Blueblood. We'll give you some forwards if you give us some backs.
BlueBlood
Guest
England have some great depth in the forwards with Launchbury, Lawes, Parling, Attwood, Croft, Wood, Haskell, Robshaw, Morgan, Vulipola, Easter, Armitage, Marler, Corbisero, Vulipola, Wilson, Heartly, Youngs, Webber Some injuries in there plus the Armitage issue but wow I wish we had those options at 4,5 and 6
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
First time I saw him I felt he looked too classy/ 'elegant' for a 4-6 but changed my mind pretty quickly. Awesome player.
swamprat
Roar Pro
Not surprised he's knackered , he throws himself about with great effect with little regard to his personal longevity.