ITOJE’S INJURY AGONY
Maro out for 3 games... but could face Scotland
COURTNEY Lawes is poised for a recall to England’s starting XV after it emerged Maro Itoje will miss at least the next three matches with another knee injury.
Itoje was forced off early in the second half of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations victory over Ireland and later left the Aviva Stadium on crutches. The Saracens lock had a scan on Sunday evening and it is understood England’s fears about his condition have been confirmed.
After the epic 32-20 win against the title-holders, head coach Eddie Jones already appeared resigned to losing Itoje for the clash with France at Twickenham on Sunday. He said: ‘He’s going to be the best lock in the world so it’s a big loss.’
While some reports have suggested the 24-year- old will be sidelined for eight weeks, Sportsmail has been told that would be the worst- case scenario. It is hoped intensive rehabilitation will help him regain full fitness for the home finale against Scotland on March 16.
Itoje suffered a similar injury during England’s autumn Test campaign. On that occasion, he chipped a kneecap and was out of action for around five weeks.
He has become an influential figure at the heart of the England pack but Jones has other pedigree options. Northampton lock Lawes made an explosive impact off the bench in Dublin and would be an ideal foil for George Kruis. He is likely to be promoted, with Wasps captain Joe Launchbury coming in as a replacement.
In better news for England, Manu Tuilagi yesterday avoided a citing, despite uproar on social media about a shoulder charge on Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale. A fiery encounter has left Ireland with several casualties, but no player on either side will face any disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, Chris Ashton has used the insight from his crossChannel career move to warn England that France will be angry, emotional and very dangerous, when they come to Twickenham on Sunday. The Sale wing spent last season at Toulon and it gave him an awareness of the Gallic rugby mindset.
The 31-year-old knows Jacques Brunel’s side will be in full backlash mode after throwing away a 16-0 half-time lead to lose in agonising fashion to Wales in Paris last Friday night.
‘They will be up for the game against us a bit more now than they would have been had they got the win,’ said Ashton. ‘It will be an angry French team, desperate to make up for the last 20 minutes of that game against Wales. I’m sure there will be repercussions from that and that goes beyond emotion. They’ve got to make up for last week.’
France tend to be at their most dangerous when they have lost in embarrassing fashion and Ashton added: ‘If we know anything about the French, it’s that they love a reaction. They’ll definitely be putting everything into winning next week and they’ll have to really, after losing at home. Their backs are against the wall and we expect nothing less.’
His season in the French Top 14 league gave Ashton an understanding of why France so often struggle at Test level, especially at the start of campaigns. They are used to a slower tempo and find it difficult to adapt at first.
‘The speed of their domestic game is affecting the step up to international level,’ he added. ‘The Top 14 is a slow, stop-start game. When you’re in an international it’s the highest intensity it could possibly be whereas their league isn’t at that level.
‘I’m speaking from experience. It’s not anywhere near. Maybe that step up shocks them in that first couple of games, but they will get up to speed very quickly. I’d definitely say the Premiership is a lot more intense. The ball is in play a lot more and the whole game is a lot quicker.’