Chris Robshaw faces a nervous wait to discover the extent of his shoulder injury, with England ordering further examination of a problem suffered for Harlequins.
The 30-year-old has been unable to take part in England’s two-day training camp owing to the shoulder problem picked up in Harlequins’ 24-17 Aviva Premiership defeat at Worcester.
Robshaw suffered the problem midway through the first half at Sixways on New Year’s Day, but soldiered on until being withdrawn at the interval.
The former England skipper linked up with boss Eddie Jones’ Test squad as planned on January 2, but his shoulder problem now needs further assessment.
“Chris Robshaw will go for a scan tomorrow to determine the extent of a shoulder injury sustained while playing for Harlequins against Worcester Warriors on New Year’s Day,” read a short Rugby Football Union (RFU) statement.
England will also continue to sweat on the extent of the knee injury that has denied Manu Tuilagi any involvement in the two-day training camp in Brighton.
The Leicester centre hobbled out of the New Year’s Day 16-12 home defeat to Saracens, that has since led to the sacking of rugby director Richard Cockerill.
England start their Six Nations title defence by hosting France at Twickenham on Saturday, February 4, and will hope both Robshaw and Tuilagi can be fit to contest selection.
What!
Guest
4 Itoje 5 Lawes 6 Wood 7 Haskell 8 Hughes 19 Ewels 20 Clifford Is most likely if Haskell is fit enough.
Samuel Honywill
Roar Pro
Launchbury out of definitely the France game and Kruis might not make the first few games either - he's got a fractured cheekbone. So Lawes is nailed on for one lock position, and given he was one of England's best performers in the Autumn you could argue he should've been anyway. The other one will be filled by Itoje or Ewels. Given that Jones wants to see Itoje on the blindside at some point a Robshaw injury is probably the time to do it, so it's probably a Ewels/Lawes partnership (if Kruis doesn't make it) in the second row and Itoje and Haskell on the flanks.
adastra32
Guest
Launchbury looks like he is injured at least for the French game.
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Guest
Always best to know what you are talking about first ben. Eng lost twice at the WC. Joseph didnt play against Wales and they used Burgess and Barritt in the centres in both those losses. Farrell started both tests at 10 and Daly wasnt even part of the squad. So yeah, maybe England had the wrong centres at the WC. Maybe Ben needs to know what hes talking about too though.
English twizz
Guest
Wasn't nimble at world cup
Ben
Guest
And how did England go with nimble at the World Cup?
English twizz
Guest
Mario itoje will start at 6 with kruis and launchberry as locks with lawes off bench
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Guest
And how did Eng go with nimble? 13 from 13.
DB
Guest
Hughes was brilliant in his last start and if Manu is fit, he will play, I guarantee it! The bloke is genuine world class when fit and offers something that nobody else in that backline does - brute strength! Watson, Browne, Farrell, May, Joseph, Daly etc are all relatively small and nimble.
What!
Guest
Im not sure Tuilagi would make the 23. Robshaw def would or will. Hes in terrific form for Eng. Id like to see Clifford ahead of Hughes for the number 8 spot. I dont expect much will change for Eng. Nowell and Watson will probably be back on the wings.