Itoje to make a quick return to replace injured Courtney Lawes, says England coach Jones

ENGLAND could fast-track lock Maro Itoje back into their Six Nations squad for their next game against Italy after Courtney Lawes was ruled out of the tournament, coach Eddie Jones said.

Lawes suffered a calf strain in England’s 21-13 defeat by Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and is out for at least four weeks.

Itoje sustained medial ligament damage during England’s 32-20 win over holders Ireland in their opening game and Jones said the 24-year-old Saracens player had made good progress with his rehabilitation.

“(Itoje) is coming along well,” Jones told British media. “I might have to give him the hurry-up, because we’ve lost Courtney. We’ve lost three of our best forwards and we’ve got to be able to cope.”

Apart from Lawes, prop Mako Vunipola (ankle) and hooker Dylan Hartley (knee) have also been ruled out for the rest of the championship.

England host Italy at Twickenham on March 9 before playing Scotland on March 16.

Meanwhile, France have called on lock Paul Gabrillagues as the only change to their squad for the Six Nations encounter with champions Ireland in Dublin on March 10. Gabrillagues replaces the injured Fabien Sanconnie, who did not feature in Saturday’s bonus-point 27-10 victory over Scotland.

Sanconnie was himself a replacement in the squad for Bernard le Roux.

Gabrillagues featured in all five of France’s Six Nations matches in 2018 and won the last of his 11 caps in November’s 28-13 victory over Argentina in Lille.