Borthwick turns to Ewels as England injuries pile up

ENGLAND sent for a reinforcement from Bath yesterday in the giant shape of Charlie Ewels — and they should soon be able to summon another after a positive update about Ollie Lawrence.

The national squad are in Girona, north east Spain, for a training camp ahead of next Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy. Head coach Steve Borthwick has already been assailed by injury setbacks and now he has been forced to send home Saracens’ Nick Isiekwe — who can operate at lock or blindside flanker — due to illness. Ewels, 28, has joined the camp as cover, with England’s resources stretched in the back-five area of the pack. Isiekwe’s withdrawal follows a season-ending injury to Tom Curry and George Martin of Leicester being sidelined for several weeks with knee trouble. Another Tiger, lock Ollie Chessum, is recovering from a head knock and Bath flanker Sam Underhill has missed recent games due to an ankle problem. Borthwick will hope Chessum is fit to line up in the second row alongside Maro Itoje in Rome, and Ewels could compete for a place in the matchday 23. Ewels has not won a Test cap since being sent off in England’s defeat by Ireland at Twickenham in March 2022. Last year he had a loan spell playing Currie Cup rugby for the Bulls in South Africa. Bath yesterday confirmed Lawrence, 24, suffered a hip injury in the Champions Cup last Sunday. But a club bulletin stated: ‘We are working towards a return during this Six Nations.’

Mail Sport understands Lawrence’s injury is minor and he could be back in full training within a fortnight. With Manu Tuilagi also out of action Lawrence’s midfield presence will be missed in Rome, but he could return to face Scotland on February 24. Meanwhile, Stuart Lancaster has confirmed that Owen Farrell’s end-of-season move to Racing 92, on a two-year deal, will be finalised after the playmaker, 32, has a medical next week. The Racing head coach said: ‘He’s not showing signs of a lack of motivation. What happens in two years’ time, we’ll wait and see. Owen might want to stay. Equally, he might want to go back and pursue another World Cup with England. He is looking for a new challenge. He is excited by something different.’