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England skipper Owen Farrell ruled out of entire 2022 Six Nations

(Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England captain Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the entire 2022 Guinness Six Nations because of a fresh ankle problem that requires an operation. Head coach Eddie Jones confirmed on Wednesday that Farrell will need surgery on the injury sustained in training for Saracens last week.

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It was hoped last week when the original squad of 36 England players was announced that Farrell would be available for the opener against Scotland on February 5 after he had recovered from damage to the other ankle which had kept him out for two months after he had limped out of the November win over Australia. 

However, Saracens reported on Friday that Farrell would not appear in his comeback game as planned versus London Irish on Sunday and he would instead be seeking out specialist medical advice about his fresh injury. 

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“Owen is out of the Six Nations,” confirmed Jones on Wednesday morning. “It’s a massive blow for him personally and for the team it’s a blow, but it’s obviously an opportunity for other guys to step up into leadership roles and for other players to play for that twelve jumper.

“We see it more as an opportunity. In today’s rugby, having your best team on the field is a rare occurrence. We are pretty used to it. Last night we had to leave our hotel because we had a fire outside. The boys are adaptable, they knew how to get on with it and there is an opportunity there to build a bit more leadership depth.

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“I don’t know any more about that at this stage,” continued Jones about a potential return date this year for Farrell. “I know a surgeon saw him on Sunday and they are making the plan and they hope to operate as soon as possible. I’m not a doctor but I would imagine the injury rebab is going to be similar to his previous injury.”

While Jones was attending the virtually held Six Nations launch on Wednesday morning where he confirmed he would be without Farrell for the entire championship, Saracens issued an injury update that read: “Owen Farrell will undergo surgery today [Wednesday] on an ankle injury sustained in training last week. The recovery period has been estimated at eight to ten weeks until his return to action.”

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Looking at other England squad developments that included Joe Marler catching Covid for the second time in eleven weeks and the injury absence of Jonny May, Jones added: “Joe seems to have a habit of catching Covid, I don’t know what it is about him. 

“We are hopeful he will be training on Monday or Tuesday. The doctor has got the exact details. Jonny May is more likely than not is going to have some surgery on his knee but the details on that are a little bit sketchy at the moment so he is likely to be out of the Six Nations.”

Regarding the progress of potential skipper Courtney Lawes, whose return to play concussion protocols resulted in Nick Isiekwe getting called in as injury cover, Jones said: “Really well. Quite positive. He is making good steps every day.”

Meanwhile, Jonny Hill is still touch and go for the championship opener in Edinburgh due to a foot injury. “He is progressing nicely. It is going to be touch and go for him for the Scotland game but we are cautiously optimistic he is going to be right and he has got a really positive mindset. He has got a few hurdles to get over but we are reasonably positive that he will be right.”   

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2 Comments
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Glen 708 days ago

Bold Text

E
Euan 708 days ago

Good, the English backline can get moving again.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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