George SOS after Luke’s injury blow
KNEE OP FOR CHIEFS STAR
JAMIE GEORGE will be asked to save England’s Six Nations bacon – five months after being dropped and asked if he was still hungry.
The Saracens hooker, right, has emerged as a key figure for Eddie Jones’ team following confirmation that Exeter’s Luke Cowan-Dickie damaged knee ligaments and could miss the rest of the season.
It means Jones turning to the vast experience of a hooker he axed from his first squad of the season, questioning if George, 31, had the will to commit fully to a third World Cup campaign.
“Losing Luke is a blow to the team and Jamie’s role is now vital for us,” said England assistant coach Richard Cockerill. “He brings not only playing ability but leadership ability.
“He worked hard away from England to get himself back in the squad and showed in his intent, whether training or playing, that he is up for the competition around him.”
Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire, 24, is the only other hooker available to England for their two crunch games at home to Ireland, on Saturday week, and away at leaders France seven days later.
Lose those and England would again finish in the bottom half of the table – a year on from their worst Six Nations finish.
“We’ll need Jamie George,” said Cockerill, a former England hooker. “When you are in big games and you’re going to get some real pressure on your game, experience is the thing that holds it together. Jamie will bring that
in bucketloads.”
Cowan-Dickie has sustained a “pretty significant” injury, according to Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter.
“It’s an operative injury on a knee ligament and a bit of cartilage damage,” Baxter added. “He’s definitely going to be out for a significant period of time, possibly the rest of the season.” Paul O’Connell, meanwhile, has put Ireland on red alert for their England clash.
Lions legend O’Connell, now Ireland’s forwards coach, said: “England are just bubbling and just on the verge of a big performance. Every part of what we do needs to be done better.
“We’ve had some tough experiences in Twickenham in recent times and that’s because England are such a good side.”
Ireland will be without prop Andrew Porter, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury he sustained against Italy.