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Gallagher PremiershipBathEngland

Bath confirm Underhill fears

England and Bath flanker Sam Underhill (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England will have to plan without Sam Underhill for the Six Nations.

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His club Bath have confirmed he’s undergone surgery on the ankle injury he picked up in Bath’s 23-16 win over Leicester Tigers on December 30th.

The clubs gave an injury update on the backrow saying “Sam Underhill has had surgery on his ankle and is expected to be out of action for up to three months”.

Bath have set a projected return of March.

It’s unlikely he’d be back in time for England’s match with Italy on March 9th, or their final game of the tournament against Scotland on March 16th.

Eddie Jones is set to name his squad for the upcoming tournament next Thursday.

With an RPI score of 68, Underhill is rated as the 7th best openside in the Premiership, despite an injury-stricken couple of years at the club.

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While concussion has been a major hurdle for Underhill, this time it is his ankle that is causing issues. The highly-rated flanker has played just nine times for the club since joining in 2017.

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Underhill joined the Ospreys for 2015/16 as a highly-rated specialist openside flanker and was initially with Bridgend Ravens as a semi-professional player alongside his studies. Such was his rapid progress that he became a member of Steve Tandy’s Ospreys squad.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio, played twice for Gloucester before crossing the Severn Bridge and after touring Argentina, he switched to Bath on a three-year deal in 2017.

Meanwhile Wales backrow Taulupe Faletau returns to action for Bath as they take on Wasps at the Rec on Saturday, in Round 5 of the Heineken Champions Cup.

Luke Charteris leads the side out from the second row, forming a lock partnership with Elliott Stooke. Jacques van Rooyen and Max Lahiff line up either side of Jack Walker in the front row.

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Faletau comes into the side at blindside flanker, teaming up with Josh Bayliss, who makes his European debut from openside. Zach Mercer starts at number eight to complete the back row.

Max Green forms an exciting half back pairing with Rhys Priestland. Max Wright starts inside Max Clark in the midfield, Aled Brew and Tom Homer come in on the left and right wing respectively. Darren Atkins completes the backline as he starts at full-back.

Bath Rugby team to face Wasps:
15. Darren Atkins
14. Tom Homer
13. Max Clark
12. Max Wright
11. Aled Brew
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Max Green
1. Jacques van Rooyen
2. Jack Walker
3. Max Lahiff
4. Elliott Stooke
5. Luke Charteris (c)
6. Taulupe Faletau
7. Josh Bayliss
8. Zach Mercer

Replacements:
16. Michael van Vuuren
17. Lucas Noguera
18. Sam Nixon
19. Dave Attwood
20. Francois Louw
21. Chris Cook
22. Alex Davies
23. Jackson Willison

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Norman Boots 9 minutes ago
Perenara faces the defining week of his post-All Blacks career so far

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Amy Quillen 38 minutes ago
Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

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CN 41 minutes ago
Five new faces named in Black Ferns' Pacific Four Series squad

Don’t hate the player hate the game. The hierarchy can always say ‘thank you but we’re good’

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CN 42 minutes ago
Five new faces named in Black Ferns' Pacific Four Series squad

This was always the risk, as soon as players make themselves available from 7s to try and get a piece of the action then how do you make room for them? As soon as it was announced I had doubts they would have to compete for their places, just get a few 15s games under their belt. If I was being cynical I would say there is no place for loyalty over sentiment. Some of those now not selected provided stability and added experience after the last RWC while the squad was transitioning

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rs 1 hour ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

As a Saffa supporting Leinster I do feel NH played well and possibly deserved the win. However, had Leinster kicked for poles — either of the two opportunities they were given, the result could have been different. Don't think Barret would have made such a huge difference. Have my doubts about Prendergast —— he still has a long way to go. Remarked to my wife it felt quite quite strange sitting on the edge of our seats hoping Leinster would pull it off. Possibly ‘cos the Sullivan's origins are from Limerick. Hopefully Irish rugby will continue to flourish.

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HU 1 hour ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Leinster are (now) clearly the best side in Ireland …. and (on paper at least) they are together with Toulouse one of the two best club sides in the world (as a Saffer I would love the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks contesting that, but we are not quite there yet) … and yes, they have been cruising through the URC and the Champions Cup this season, looking at times unbeatable ….

but when it gets down to real business, they seem to underperform or “be out of luck” (which is not really “luck” but lacking winner mentality) - just like the Irish with their QF-curse

so I guess, the question arises, whether Leo Cullen is the right (head) coach radiating winner mentality

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HU 1 hour ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

“But also explain why it is Leinster year in year out left to represent the URC in the champions league.”

that itself is hardly a proof of supremacy, as there are 8 sides per competition qualifying … the Champions League is a great competition from say quarter-final onwards, not so much in the pool stages

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GP 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen's ex-NRL All Blacks prospect shines in basement battle

Great to see Japanese comp. Fantastic to see two top teams coached by red and black legends Todd Blackadder and Robbie Deans. Todd played over 100 games for Canterbury , leading us to 2 titles in 1997 and 2001.He was captain of the Crusaders , winning 3 years in a row in ‘98, ‘99 and 2000. Robbie Deans , 5 titles as a Crusaders coach, 1 NPC title with Canterbury. Over 100 games for Canterbury and numerous point scoring records ,mainly through his goal kicking feats. Most famously in Canterbury’s greatest Ranfurly Shield era 1982-85. Robbie saved the day many times.Most notably in our first defense. The match drawing penalty kick against Counties . Score was 15 all.

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fl 2 hours ago
Same criticism rings out over Sam Prendergast as one debate put to bed

Prendergast is great.


Fin Smith might be slightly better, but i’d pick them both to go to Australia.

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Red hot Bordeaux dump Toulouse out of Champions Cup to book Saints final

Well deserved win and the clear better team. Nice for Toulouse to make that break through. Toulouse put it up to them with forward pressure, but Toulouse had the answers. Great kicking by Lucu and Jalibert and excellent match management.

Should be an excellent final.

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Barrett creates room for Prendergast in the way that Henshaw can’t. That’s a fact. They targetted Prendergast and Barrett there would have made a significant difference to him not counting his other contributions (Barretts).


You don’t go from conceding no tries in two rounds to 5 tries and 37 points. High reward high risk doesn’t explain that alone. Leinster’s issue is that the many weaknesses we saw yesterday were not exposed over the season. They had a hard match against Rochelle and that was it: all year. That is not enough.


It is extremely hard for URC teams to win that tournament. Look at the two hardened and rounded French teams today. Hopefully the URC gets a few teams up to standard during the league stage next year.

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Mark 2 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Bordeaux-begles were my dark horse tip from the beginning of the tournament. Toulouse had significant injury issues going into this game. Leinster had a full squad to choose from, and simply made the wrong calls. Nobody is demonising the Ireland players or indeed leinster, simply stating a fact. Leinster had home advantage and effectively bottled it.

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

That was an Irish blog. Cullen has been rotating the centres. The two centres playing were the starting centres for Ireland (with Aki). It is perfectly in Cullen’s gift to believe that bringing on Barrett in the second half might eb a decisive move. It nearly was. Nobody could have predicted that NH would score 4 first half tries. Thats not complacency. People seem to be determined to demonize Ireland and Irish players and supporters. There is no basis for it.


Will you now start condemning Toulouse for complacency, arrogance just because they lost when expected to win? Didnt think so.

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Tom 2 hours ago
Same criticism rings out over Sam Prendergast as one debate put to bed

“Is Sam Prendergast the most overhyped player in any sport ever?” this is a ridiculous statement. Prendergast isn't over hyped. His limitations have been publicly very exposed in the last few months. He's a talented young player with some slick passing but I don't hear anyone hyping him whatsoever, in fact if anything, he's probably under hyped, everyone is saying he's sh*t lol! Fin Smith has established himself as the better player and is the clear favourite to start the first test in Australia.


So happy that England finally have an established 10 with a triple threat, I didn't enjoy much of the Farrell era, he's a great rugby player but over reliant on attacking kicks. Fin has a great tactical kicking game but is far more instinctive, excited to see where he can go, just hope he's trusted to run the attack and play what's in front of him.

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Tom 2 hours ago
Tommy Freeman shines as Northampton Saints shock Leinster out of Europe

Absolutely, I'm sure a lot of them will be on England contracts which should help. I don't see any of their young stars leaving Northampton for the next 5+ years, they seem to have a happy, healthy environment with some really good coaches.

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Mark 2 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

The decision to bench Barrett was described by several pundits as...and I quote..."The most complacent and disrespectful decision ever". As I originally stated, Saints were worthy winners. But there was beyond doubt, a level of complacency in the Leinster camp.

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rs 2 hours ago
URC teams aren't proving Stephen Donald wrong

Say what you like. New Zealand rugby in trouble. Agreed, they'll never be poor, to the point that Ben Smith will become nothing else but a bad memory, unfortunately though, but at the same time they will have to accept that other teams have caught up and in quite a few cases moved beyond. Even the “one trick pony” team will soon have evolved a few other tricks.

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RedWarriors 3 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

‘See you in the final was misinformation by Eben Etzebeth’. After initially saying it was 13 players he then acknowledged it was probably one. After the first test (and a chat with a few Irish players) he did the right thing and publicly said he misunderstood what was being said. So there is literally nothing to substantiate a claim of arrogance. This nonsense started when Ireland beat NZ in the 2022 series.

Do people want new teams to improve in the International scene? Then maybe stop abusing them and their supporters. Getting sick of this ‘Arrogance’ stuff which is a product of click bait spocial media.

You didn’t hurt my feelings. But this constant abuse of Irish as arrogance when an Irish team loses is getting well old now.

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RedWarriors 3 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

“We are the best team in the world and yet still do no better than your predecessors”

No Irish person or player said this. It is quite simply a fabrication and lie on your part.


Ireland won 17 matches in a row beating all the top nations twice. That included a series win in NZ. Only the second time it happenned and a major major pressured achievement for Ireland. The talk after the QF in 2023 was that ‘only an a$$hole would say Ireland choked’. How quickly people forget.

Was the Durban 2nd test against SA not a pressured occasion?


In 2023 SA needed a massive dollop of luck due to the ridiculous draw. 9 points down to a bad England team, needing dodgy ref decisions. Needing a red card to beat NZ.

Its a nice story that only RWCs count. But 6Ns, RCs, Match series and tests count also.


So boast away about how great SA are in pressurized situations. Thats the point youre trying to reach isnt it? But also explain why it is Leinster year in year out left to represent the URC in the champions league.

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RW 3 hours ago
Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but what about seven consecutive swallows? Does that make a summer?

It appears, and I am not necessarily saying it's because of this, but it's fascinating Leinster won the URC four times in row, however when the SA clubs join, they haven't won anything since.


You take things personally boet. Just swallow your frustration, and take the loss on the chin and hopefully your coaches can make a difference in a few weeks time in the URC Semi Finals. Maybe this will be the year they make it to a URC Final. They have never played in a URC Final btw. Let's see that. Maybe your luck will kick in and they get something this season. At least they can fully focus on the last two pool games of the URC now and put all their energy into it. That might be the break they need to finally win a URC cup.

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