England captain Lawes happy players are sidelined to be safe over head knocks

England rugby captain Courtney Lawes has said the high injury toll in the Test series against the Wallabies is unfortunate, but the sidelining of concussed players proves the game has progressed.

Both England and Australia have suffered multiple injuries across their first two Tests, with a number of players getting head knocks.

Asked if he was alarmed by the high injury toll, Lawes said: “Quite a lot of them have been from head knocks.

Sam Cane talks to media ahead of third test against Ireland in Wellington | All Blacks press conference

Sam Cane talks to media ahead of third test against Ireland in Wellington | All Blacks press conference

“It shows the progression of the game, where if you picked up a head knock this time last year, you’d be all right to play for this next Test.

“I think it’s better safe than sorry and if you pick up a head knock in a game then you should have the time you need to recover from it, so I see it as a good thing.

“There’s been plenty of other pretty serious injuries, especially on their side, which is tough and very unfortunate to see to be honest.

“But it is the nature of the game at this point because there’s so many good athletes, there’s so many big collisions and it’s a tough sport.

“I don’t think you can trouble yourself with it too much.

“We play a tough physical game and we all know what we signed up for, and a lot of it is effectively down to luck.

“People catching a ball and coming down awkwardly, getting landed on and stuff like that, it’s bad luck and, unfortunately, it happens.”

Lawes, who played at blindside flanker for the first two Tests, said coach Eddie Jones had not suggested he switch to the second row for Saturday’s SCG decider, after lock Maro Itoje was ruled out with concussion.

A knee injury to Cadeyrn Neville and Darcy Swain’s suspension have depleted Australia’s lock stocks, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto called into the squad.

Salakaia-Loto and Lawes will soon be teammates in England when the 30-cap Wallabies forward joins the England skipper’s club, Northampton Saints.

Lawes and the other Saints members of the touring party had a coffee with Salakaia-Loto last week before he was drafted into the Wallabies squad.

“All I know is he’s massive, so I’m going to try and avoid running straight into him,” Lawes said .

Both men played in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final won by England, though starter Lawes was replaced five minutes before Salakaia-Loto came off the bench.