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Pat Lam provides Ellis Genge injury update amid fears of missing Six Nations start

England's Ellis Genge (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam has insisted Ellis Genge, one of the strongest candidates to replace Owen Farrell as England captain, is on track to overcome his hamstring injury and be ready for the opening Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome on February 3.

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Genge injured his hamstring training with Bristol at the start of December and there were reports that his recovery timeline has changed, making it possible he could miss the Italy match, forcing England head coach Steve Borthwick to opt for another of his captaincy options.

However, Lam is adamant nothing has changed in the expected return for Genge, whose ball carrying has been sorely missed by Bristol who travel to Sale on Friday night. Lam said: “The plan is for him to be back for the Italy game.

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    “Ellis is doing really well and looks bigger to me with that work in the gym. When people have injuries you have a window to get better physically and also mentally and he is on track and hopefully he will make it in time for around the Six Nations. The main thing is that players get back on time if not before. Most of the time guys come back earlier but every injury is different.

    “When he is ready then he is ready. If he came back and it is a Premiership game then we have to make that call in conjunction with the medical team. If it is a Six Nations game that is over to Steve. It is up to the coach to make the final call.

    “Ellis has been talked about [as captain] because he is a leader and wears his heart on his sleeve and gives everything. I have no doubt he is one of the [England] contenders and that is Steve [Borthwick’s] role and we all know the type of leader he is.”

    Bristol could have AJ McGinty, the USA Eagles outside half, who suffered a serious hamstring injury in the first round of Premiership matches, to face his former Sale teammates. “AJ is back in the mix but Harry Thacker is still going through HIA process,” he added. “AJ played really well last year and it’s good to have him available and Sale know him well.”

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    1 Comment
    N
    Nick 396 days ago

    Genge needs to concentrate on his scrummaging, he has regressed alarmingly since his return to Bristol, ditto Sinkler. I’d pick Obano at LH in front of him currently, and certainly Rapava Ruskin if fit, along with Marker.

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    RedWarrior 22 minutes ago
    Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss

    The English defense was excellent in the first half. This is considering Ireland's attack has improved significantly since the Autumn with former Leinster attack coach Goodman. Ireland were beaten by NZ in the Autumn, are behind SA and arguably behind France so de facto 4th in order (rankings take time to catch up) As Eddie Jones said Ireland are still in that elite group so England's domination in the first half is noteworthy.

    I believe they have spent the time since the Autumn largely on defence. On broken play they were relying on Smiths instint along with some jiggery pokery. For Smiths early line break a Twindaloo blocked Baird which left the gap for smith. It looked like he did Aki, but Baird was a little late arriving and clever play by Tom Curry allowed the gap for Smith. Earls line break was Smith spotting Baird coming out and beating him with a beautiful pass to Earl.

    We saw the rehearsed plays for a couple of Ireland's tries. The Aki try was just identifying that England tended to hide Smith on the wing creating a vulnerability which Ireland exploited with one of Akis great finishes.

    Although Ireland were relaxing at the end the two English tries were good enough quality and we may see more of it next week (Scotland will also have taken note).

    Although on the easier side of the draw Borthwick almost took England to a RWC final.

    But in common with the top4 you need to have firepower to get those tries in big games. Can Borthwick manage that? I don't think so.

    Next week even if England have a great first half again, you would be looking at France converting 3 of those Irish chances and pushing on after the break.

    Can Borthwick develop a plan to beat France in the next few years. If the answer is no England need to find someone who can.

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