Eddie’s pack falling like a house of cards
ENGLAND were dealt a crushing blow last night when they lost a second Vunipola brother in the space of 48 hours for the autumn Tests.
Prop Mako followed No8 Billy out of the Quilter Internationals with further investigation revealing the calf injury he picked up for Saracens at Glasgow is set to sideline him for six weeks.
Following hot on the heels of Billy’s broken arm, the double blow depowers England’s pack drastically for the four-Test run at Twickenham, which opens against South Africa on November 3.
“It looks like it’s going to be around six weeks as it’s a tear in his calf,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
There was further bleak news out of the English champions with confirmation that their second-row Nick Isiekwe, who started the first Test against the Springboks in the summer, has been ruled out for eight weeks by an ankle issue.
It is the loss of the Vunipolas that will exercise England coach Eddie Jones the most, though, coming as they do in positions where alternatives are thin on the ground.
While Jones has learnt to live without Billy after a sequence of injury absences, he has leaned heavily upon Mako as a ball carrier and workhorse in the No1 jersey.
Ordinarily, Joe Marler would step in at loosehead but the Harlequins prop abruptly announced his retirement last month.
With Leicester’s Ellis Genge, Wasps’ Matt Mullan and Bath’s Beno Obano all crocked, Jones is likely to turn to Exeter duo Alec Hepburn and Ben Moon, plus Gloucester’s Val RapavaRuskin when he announces his 36-man squad for the autumn Tests today.
They are the next cabs on a near-empty rank – Hepburn boasts just two caps while Moon and Rapava-Ruskin have none, as opposed to Mako’s 52.
No8 had already been identified as a problem area with Vunipola following Sam Simmonds into the casualty ward and Nathan Hughes headed for a disciplinary hearing.
Hughes had already been found guilty of punching against Gloucester at an initial hearing last week but after tweeting “what a joke” during proceedings he faced the panel for a second time last night with England fearing the worst.
There was at least some disciplinary relief for Jones yesterday from the outcome of Alex Lozowski’s double citing.
The Saracens centre picked up a two-week ban for an illegal ruck clearout against Glasgow on Sunday but no action was taken over his high tackle on Ruaridh Jackson after the full-back provided telephone evidence in his favour.
While Lozowski will miss Saracens’ Heineken Cup tie against Lyon this weekend, he will be free to play against South Africa if required.
Ben Te’o should also be part of the selection equation for that game, with the Lions centre set to feature for the first time this season for Worcester this weekend. Te’o missed the summer tour to undergo a thigh operation and has been struggling with a calf issue of late, but looks to have timed his return well for England consideration. With Manu Tuilagi also set to be included in today’s squad, Jones will have plenty of backline punch available as opposed to the situation up front. The likelihood is that Sale’s Chris Ashton will be called up despite his lack of rugby after picking up a seven-week ban in preseason. He will feature on the wing against Connacht this weekend. Jonny May is expected to be named despite the shoulder injury which kept him out on Saturday. He is hopeful of returning for Leicester this weekend. ❑TOULOUSE back-row Jerome Kaino has been banned for five weeks for the tackle that knocked out Bath’s Jamie Roberts at the weekend. Team-mate Lucas Pointud has been suspended for four weeks for making contact with Nathan Catt’s head with his shoulder. ❑FORMER Australia flanker George Smith, 38, has signed a contract extension to stay with Bristol until the end of the season.