Farrell crocked
OWEN’S 3-MONTH KO
ENGLAND captain Owen Farrell faces three months on the sidelines after it was revealed he requires surgery on his ankle.
Farrell goes under the knife today to repair damage suffered against Australia and will miss the start of next year’s Six Nations.
Saracens club-mate Jamie George also faces a lengthy lay-off due to the knee injury he sustained against the Wallabies at Twickenham.
The pair were notable absentees from the England team named to face South Africa tomorrow.
Farrell is expected to be sidelined for 10-12 weeks with hooker George also facing a race against time to make England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 5.
“Jamie needs to do a rehab programme, anywhere from eight to 10 weeks,” said England coach Eddie Jones. “We will know more about Owen after the operation.”
Without the experienced Lions duo England are pinning their hopes on their young guns following Marcus Smith’s lead and firing against the world champions.
Winger Jonny May said: “Marcus has been brilliant but all the boys who have come in have been brilliant.
“They’ve come in with great attitudes, keen to learn, with the courage to step up and speak. When I was a new guy, I wouldn’t say anything. I wouldn’t say boo to a goose.
“But with these boys, where it would be easy to be shy and a little bit hesitant, they’ve found their voice.
“It’s not just Marcus, we’re trying to create an environment where everybody’s here for a reason.”
Jones welcomed three of the old guard into camp to help bolster belief that World Cup Final defeat can be avenged.
Chris Robshaw, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell watched training and spoke to the squad over lunch.
“The whole team is up for the fight,” added Jones. “I’ve never seen a team as ready to play against South Africa as this team.
“We know exactly how we want to play, exactly where we think there is a weakness with them and we’ve just got to go out there now and execute.
“And execute with a spirit of adventure, a spirit of taking the English game where it’s never been before.”
Jones said the Boks would pay for implying the England pack are weak.
He said: “They were implying our forward pack was weak but our forward pack won’t be weak on Saturday.
“We’ll have 82,000 people supporting us and we are looking forward to taking them on in that physicality.”