England’s stocks at loosehead are looking decidedly bare at the moment after three potential options for Steve Borthwick saw their Six Nations hopes take a blow over recent days.
Alex Sanderson, the director of rugby at Sale Sharks, disclosed during the week that Bevan Rodd would miss the entire competition following toe surgery.
Then on Saturday, two players with more over 70 caps, Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola, were involved in situations that would have harmed their chances of qualifying for the Six Nations.
Injury and red card
Marler tried to play through an arm injury, but towards the conclusion of the first half, he was forced to leave the game.
The Harlequins loosehead was visibly uncomfortable and went down for the majority of play stoppages before sensibly conceding defeat.
In the 36th minute, Fin Baxter properly took his place, and he will now have a scan to ascertain the extent of the issue.
Further research will be necessary into the injuries sustained by Quins forwards Stephan Lewies and Dino Lamb, who both appeared to have serious shoulder problems.
“There will be scans and we’ll wait and see,” said Quins head coach Danny Wilson. “Fingers crossed they’re not too bad because they’re three big players for us.”
Normally, Marler’s injury would have made room for someone like Mako Vunipola, who was sent off on Saturday, but he missed the Rugby World Cup.
The 32-year-old will serve a suspension after being sent off for a risky tackle late in the Newcastle Falcons game.
If his suspension was limited to three games, he would be eligible to play in the Six Nations, but Sarries manager Mark McCall is optimistic that it would be lifted.
“We will see what the tribunal thinks because it was part of a double tackle and he came in second,” McCall said. “The primary tackler affected the height of the body.”
England’s options
Ellis Genge, a World Cup starter, has also raised questions because he developed a hamstring issue in December.
This implies that Genge, Marler, and Rodd—England’s three losers in the world tournament—are all recovering from injuries.
But Genge is expected to play in the Six Nations, and he might be available the following week.
But who does that leave on the sidelines with Rodd undoubtedly out, Marler’s current condition unknown, and another candidate, Gloucester’s Van Rapava-Ruskin, out of the picture?
Beno Obano, who has performed admirably for Bath this season, is the first guy that quickly springs to mind. The 29-year-old, who has struggled with injuries himself, seems to be the next in line now that he is fully recovered.
Obano has led Bath’s scrum this season and has a good chance of adding to his three Six Nations caps.
Meanwhile, Harlequins rookie Baxter is progressing well, while Tarek Haffar made a standout performance for the Northampton Saints against Sale Sharks’ gifted teenage tight end Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Phil Brantingham of Newcastle, who is starting to establish himself as a mainstay in the Falcons starting lineup, is most likely only a few spots behind them.
