Launchbury injury doubt for Johannesburg fixture
Joe Launchbury is a doubt to start England’s opening Test against South Africa in Johannesburg due to a calf problem.
The Wasps captain, pictured, sustained the injury in training last week and was unable to join the squad for their first significant practice session of the week at Kings Park Stadium in Durban yesterday.
He was poised to start the Ellis Park showdown on Saturday alongside Maro Itoje at lock but now faces a race to prove his fitness.
“Joe has just got a small niggle on his calf and we’ll see where he gets to with that,” assistant coach Neal Hatley said. “It’s hard to tell how much of a doubt he is.”
England can ill-afford to lose a veteran of 52 caps who has been in strong form for Wasps when they seek to dispatch the Springboks at a venue Eddie Jones has described as the “spiritual home of rugby”.
They departed for South Africa without injured locks Courtney Lawes and Charlie Ewels, leaving them stretched in a position that has been a traditional source of strength.
Launchbury’s absence means 20-year-old Nick Isiekwe will partner Saracens colleague Itoje to make only his third Test appearance and uncapped Exeter lock Jonny Hill is drafted on to the bench.
A left-field selection would be Kiwi Brad Shields making his debut in the second row having joined the squad for the first time on Sunday. Among the outstanding issues in team selection is the battle between tighthead props Harry Williams and Kyle Sinckler in the absence of Dan Cole, who has been rested for the tour.
“This is exactly what we want – two young tightheads fighting for that spot,” Hatley said.
“Both are fairly explosive. They’re good scrummagers. You saw the job Kyle did against France, maybe his point of difference is his ball carrying. He’s done well carrying the ball against France and Ireland. Harry is a big man who hits hard, cleans out well and is a good defender.” Ireland’s Shane Lowry and former world No 1 Adam Scott were among the players to book their places in next week’s US Open via the sectional qualifying competition in Columbus, Ohio.
Lowry, who finished second at Oakmont in 2016 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round, shared top spot with South Korea’s Sungjae Im as the pair completed 36 holes in nine under par.
Former US PGA champion Keegan Bradley was a shot behind to also seal his spot at Shinnecock Hills, with India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Scott each securing one of the 14 places on offer.
Scott’s rounds of 66 and 72 were just enough to avoid a play-off and earn the former Masters champion a 68th consecutive major championship appearance, a streak which dates back to 2001.
Steve Stricker, 51, earned a qualifying place in Memphis, where Ireland’s Seamus Power missed out in an 11-man play-off for the final three spots.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen, who won his second US Open the last time it was staged at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, also failed to qualify in Memphis and will not be given a second special exemption by the USGA.