Underhill is FIFTH concussed player
EnGLAnD’S preparations for their decider against Australia have been rocked after Sam Underhill became the fifth player to be ruled out of the series with concussion.
Early flights home have already been booked for forwards Tom Curry and Maro Itoje, while Wallaby pair Allan Alaalatoa and Jordan Petaia have also suffered head injuries.
A recent injury audit by the rFU showed concussion rates are at their highest since records began and the alarming trend has continued to plague this series.
Underhill was concussed tackling Marika koroibete in Brisbane on Saturday, with alarm bells immediately ringing in the knowledge that the no 7 had missed three months of the season with head injuries. England have decided not to fly out a replacement. The long flight time and probability of jetlag means it would be difficult for players to get up to speed by Saturday, and fellow flanker Jack Willis was given the all-clear yesterday to return from a rib injury.
Willis pulled out of the second Test at the last minute, but he will now challenge Lewis Ludlam for the starting jersey ahead of this weekend’s finale at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
England’s players have spent two days recovering on Coogee Beach as they prepare for one final push at the end of a gruelling season. Wing Jack nowell, who has suffered his own injury battles, is one of
the veterans who also toured Australia in 2016.
England secured a 3-0 clean sweep back then, but nowell claims circumstances dictate that a series victory would be even sweeter this time around.
‘We have had some difficult situations, we let ourselves down and lost a few games,’ said nowell. ‘It fired us up to go again. We had a lot riding on Saturday. If we lost, the series would have been over.
‘Winning the series would be massive. If I look back to last time we were out here, winning 3-0 was special.
‘But to come from 1-0 down, and hopefully the idea of going 2-1 at the end of it, is one I will remember more.
‘I feel pretty good. I had 10 weeks off after the Six nations. Eddie will keep us pretty calm, training will be the same.’
Having suffered a staggering 10 injuries across the first two Tests, the Wallabies yesterday called up two new players to bolster their depleted squad.
Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been drafted in after a visa issue delayed his journey to join up with new club northampton.
Uncapped wing Mark nawaqanitawase, 21, who has been dubbed the next Israel Folau, has been promoted from the Australia A team.