BROKEN ARM PUTS VUNIPOLA OUT OF SIX NATIONS
Apologetic Haskell faces Six Nations ban for horror tackle as Wasps join Premiership exile from Europe
BILLY VUNIPOLA is set to miss all the Six Nations after his injury jinx struck again. Playing only his second game since returning from knee surgery, the England
JAMES HASKELL faces a Six Nations ban and Wasps an early Euro exit following a capitulation that will haunt them for years.
The England flanker was not alone in issuing a public apology after the two-time champions blew a 28-12 lead in the last 15 minutes on Saturday night.
“We feel we’ve let a lot of people down,” admitted scrum-half Dan Robson. “To go out in the group stages with a game still to go is not acceptable for us. We’ve got higher standards than that.”
Wasps boss Dai Young labelled the result “probably the most disappointing since I’ve been at the club – and we’ve only got ourselves to blame.”
Haskell’s dismissal for hitting Jamie Roberts with a late shoulder opened the door to Quins and they cashed in with James Chisholm’s lastgasp try.
He is set to face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, with six weeks the recommended sanction for a dangerous tackle to the head. England start their Six Nations campaign against Italy on Sunday fortnight and play Wales six days later.
To his credit, Haskell apologised immediately, tweeting: “What’s done is done, but just want to publicly apologise to @Jamiehuwroberts.
“Never my intention to hurt another player. Got my height wrong, paid the price, which happens. You know me, never one to do anything subtly.”
Roberts replied: “Hope your shoulder is ok after colliding with this jaw @jameshaskell – Good man for apologizing .... just bend those arthritic knees next time pal ;)”
English rugby could yet fail to get a single club through to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, though Exeter will rightly fancy their chances after destroying Montpellier.
Leicester, Northampton and Quins are already eliminated, while Bath and Saracens’ failure to beat Welsh opposition has left them needing outside assistance. Wasps are not mathematically out, but try telling that to Young and Robson.
“I think it’s over,” said Young. “Nobody doubts the quality we have, but you’ve got to show the fight when things ain’t quite going your way.
“We didn’t show enough bite and determination to defend our line. We made it far too easy for them.”
Robson agreed: “We say, ‘We’re a good side, we’ll learn from this’. But good sides don’t keep making these mistakes. We should never have lost that game. We’ll have to have a big look at ourselves.”
The one negative for Quins, inspired by Marcus Smith’s late arrival off the bench, was an eye injury to Mike Brown, which left the England full-back with slight blurred vision.
QUINS – Tries: R Chisholm, Lang, Care, Elia, J Chisholm. Cons: Lang, Smith 3.
WASPS – Tries: Eastmond, Carr, Johnson, Macken. Cons: Cipriani 4.