Biggar facing a fitness battle
to fight to get my place back.” The remote prospect of Maro Itoje facing the Six Nations’ only other unbeaten side has vanished after he was excluded from the extended squad who assembled at England’s Surrey training base yesterday.
Itoje suffered a knee injury against Ireland and, while Jones floated the possibility of the lock securing a bench spot against Wales, he will continue receiving treatment with a view to facing Italy.
Wales have an injury concern of their own after Dan Biggar, who kicked four penalties in last week’s win over Italy, lasted only 19 minutes before limping out of Northampton’s 67-17 victory over Sale on Saturday.
Biggar’s left knee was heavily strapped but Saints coach Chris Boyd said the decision to replace him was precautionary. “He probably could have played on,” said Boyd. “He came back from Italy with a really low-grade MCL strain in the knee and was keen to play.
“He just tweaked it again. He probably could have stayed on but at that stage we thought we’d bring him out. I’m not a medical man but I don’t think there’s any reason that he won’t be available to face England.”