FARRELL’S OUT OF SIX NATIONS
alex spink
OWEN FARRELL will see a specialist early next week after a new injury wrecked his hopes of being ready for the Six Nations.
The England captain already faced a race against time to make the opener against Scotland at Murrayfield a fortnight today.
He has not played any rugby since damaging ankle ligaments against Australia in
November and undergoing surgery.
But a training ground injury at Saracens, three days after he reclaimed the captaincy with a ringing endorsement from head coach Eddie Jones (above), has put paid to his chances.
It means the 100-cap international misses his club’s European
Challenge Cup clash against London Irish tomorrow, which had been earmarked as his fitness test.
“Owen suffered an injury in training this week,” confirmed a Saracens spokesman.
“He was back in full training having recovered from the ankle injury against Australia. We will have a further update after he sees a specialist early next week.”
In Farrell’s absence Courtney Lawes captained England against South Africa last time out, leading them to a notable win over the world champions.
Lawes is almost certain to keep the job when Jones announces a squad update on Monday, with Marcus Smith and Henry Slade shoring up the playmaking duties.
England play back-to-back away matches in Edinburgh and Rome before returning home to face
Wales and Ireland, in successive games at Twickenham, on February 2 and March 12.
Farrell’s loss could allow for the recall of George Ford, who has been out of favour with Jones all season despite tearing it up in the Premiership for runaway leaders Leicester.
However, the
Australian seems to have taken against Ford, preferring to
start full-back George Furbank at 10 against Tonga rather than call in the 77-capped Tiger.
Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio advised Jones against rushing Farrell back earlier this month.
He said: “The focus should be on him getting fit, getting back in the Saracens team, step by step, rather than people thinking straight away about him and the England captaincy.
“Owen is a big part of England going forward. Don’t write him off just yet. He’s an absolute monster of a player.
“But no one needs to put any pressure on him, least of all Eddie Jones. Let’s see how it unfolds.”