England have today confirmed that fly-half Owen Farrell will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations with a knee ligament injury sustained in Saracens’ loss to Clermont at the weekend. Farrell was assessed by a specialist yesterday evening who confirmed that he suffered a high grade medial ligament strain that will keep him out for the duration of the Championship.
George Ford, who took the number 10 jersey from Farrell for the final two Autumn Internationals, is in pole position to start once again, but the real intrigue now surrounds who is picked on the bench. Stephen Myler would appear to be the favourite, given his inclusion in the autumn squad, but Danny Cipriani’s return to the senior group could spell a remarkable return to England colours for the controversial fly-half.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “It’s a real shame for Owen that he sustained this injury and we wish him the best for his recovery. We are fortunate to have three other No 10s in the squad in what is a very competitive position and we will look forward to seeing how they go over the RBS 6 Nations. We will continue to assess and treat the other players’ injuries and will provide an update at the launch tomorrow.”
England yesterday confirmed that Tom Croft and Christian Day had been called up to the senior squad as injury problems worsened. Geoff Parling and Brad Barritt also have knee ligament strains and will almost certainly miss at least the opening game against Wales, while Tom Wood is being treated for an ankle injury and Kyle Eastmond has sustained a shoulder strain. Luther Burrell is following the return to play protocol after being concussed at the weekend.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
38 replies on “Owen Farrell to miss entire Six Nations with knee injury”
Brad Barrit out for the Wales game as well. England having some shocking luck – Farrel, Barrit, Manu….
Really gutted about this. I know he has his critics but I’m a huge fan of his. Would have had him behind Ford to at the start of the 6 nations but still want someone of his character and experience around.
Really hope Cipriani plays and not Myler. Myler looks dreadful without massive go forward ball and constantly looks like a good club player to me, nothing more.
Cipriani, in current form, warrants being third choice behind Farrell and Ford so should naturally come in.
Hmm, so Ford will probably be kicking in the Wales game, he doesn’t kick that well under pressure so expect him to miss a few in the cauldron that Cardiff will bring ….
lets try to win by scoring more tries not rely on a decent place kicker who can,t play rugby
Let’s try to win by whatever means is necessary
Been 7 World Cup finals in history totaling just 10 tries. But yeh, let’s do it your way…
Ok I miscounted, there’s been 11. Point still stands.
A top class pack and a great kicker often wins World Cups.
Jacob fully agree.We should stop trying to imitate nz/quins.Pack is our strength-play to it!
Yes, please do England go all out for scoring tries. That’s always the best way to approach these tough matches.
Surely Slade needs to be called up?
No Problem he is useless
Isn’t there some daily mail comment page you would be better suited to contribute to?
Barrit out as well. So Its Ford, Eastmond, Burrell, Joseph and 12t left in to make up the midfield. Surely he won’t go with 12t so its either all bath or Burrell in there somewhere?
They’re still assessing Eastmond as well, so he may not be fit for the Wales game either!!
I would love to see all Bath.Club familiarity is a big plus.Burrell was badly shown up by Roberts last saturday.Surely SL has worked out 12ts is flakey.Who would you have at 9?All much of a muchness in my book.
Are we not going a bit OTT writing off Burrell because of one poor game? Surely this will make him extra motivated to get revenge on Roberts?
I don’t think it is about writing Burrell off – but Roberts looked brilliant. Wales away is the one game I’d consider using Barritt in. Personally if we were at home I’d play Burrell, but away I’d like to see Barritt play.
Youngs, Ford, May, Burrell/Barritt/12T/Eastmond, Joseph, Watson, Brown – at least the rest of the back line picks itself!
12 has been the problem position for England since SL took over. In fact, it’s been the problem position for England since Greenwood retired! Good news is that SL has built a very good squad to cover all other positions.
I thought Barritt was confirmed unavailable for the Wales match?
Even so whilst I understand the pros of picking BB for Wales away, I do feel that it puts additional pressure on 10 and 13, as the opposition defence feel they can ignore BB. I felt that was the case against Aus in the autumn. 12t got clattered every time he got the ball.
More talking generally there than specifically for this fixture.
Do agree that Barritt allows the opposition to target the other centre more – but away in Cardiff I would substitute that for his defensive skills. With someone like Joseph at 13 and Ford at 10 we should still be effective in attack.
I am not sure that it is because of one bad game. Although it hasn’t helped the perception that Burrell’s defence can be flaky.
I have never been convinced by it. Obviously, he is big and strong and if someone runs at him, his knocks them down. The problem is that he does seem to get himself into some odd positions when defending, both technically and positionally.
Do agree with that – Burrell seems to miss a lot of tackles, and most the time quite simple ones. One against London Welsh a few weeks back sticks out in my memory where just just flaps at the chest of his opposite man before Welsh proceed to score a try.
Well it goes from bad to worse. With this news I would have to go with Ford, May, Burrell, Joseph, Watson and Brown with Nowell on the bench. With the lack of experience at this level though I suspect Sl might start with Watson on the wing, and have Goode on the bench. Goode may not be the most fleet of foot, but he is a very intelligent player and a good kicker. He will keep the opposition pinned back and can slot into the midfield or first receiver.
Is Burrell still being assessed for concussion? I’m sure I read that somewhere
So we are now missing:
Launchbury
Lawes
Parling
Slater
Wood
Morgan
Farrell
Barritt
Tuilagi
And possibly Burrell and Eastmond.
Bugger
Its bad enough not knowing your mid-field when everyone’s fit – let alone when its potentially missing 5 players (am including Farrell as being able to play there)
Hands up all those who can envisage a 12T & Joseph mid-field. Gotta feel sorry for Joseph if that happens
Yeh he is being assessed and out of contact until Friday. Still gives him a week to train, but with the necessity of a new look centre partnership (because on the face of it Joseph will start) I would imagine they will go for 12T and Joseph as they will have had two weeks to click.
Option to revert to last year’s 12T and Burrell of course, maybe Joseph taking a bench spot as he can cover wing and Nowell/Watson/May can all play FB.
And Foden! Does it seem odd that Croft and Day were called immediately into the senior squad, and yet SL hasn’t called any replacement centres into the squad as a precaution. Step up Sam Burgess!!
Let’s just say that Eastmond doesn’t recover in time, and Burrell is clearly not over his concussion for training next week. Not a nice thought for either player but possible. What would you rather have SL do, play 12T and Joseph (I’m not liking the idea of it personally on 12T current form!), or call up Sam Burgess from the Saxons and start him with Joseph? After all they play together all the time for Bath, and Ford is surely nailed on to start as well!!
I think Dazza, in purely hypothetical mode, that Burgess coming in at 12 would be quite a story. The “Cavalier” in me would love to see that.
The “Roundhead” in me thinks that it may be a bit of a train wreck….
Can’t imagine SL picking someone to start who is uncapped and considered a Saxons player a week ago over someone who has been around the squad for years.
Eastmond is confirmed out.
Burrell, 12T and Joseph are the centre options then?
I know what you mean Jacob, but with no Eastmond, Barritt or Farrell, and Burrell still being assessed, surely he’s got to promote someone from the Saxons just in case!? The way England centres are dropping, unless he calls in the cavalry, we’ll end up with 12T and Goode!!!!
Got to be too early for Burgess – even if he has a stormer for the Saxons it would be a hell of a risk bringing him in. Would make it interesting though!
I’d imagine Slade will be called up. Not sure who the next cab off the rank is after him. Daly? Sam Hill?
You’d assume so – unless he considers May a genuine option at 13? Leaving 12T and Burrell as 12 options and JJ and May there.
Do agree he should call someone up though. I would say Slade. Makes sense to get him involved with the squad at some point, plus he is probably the next best genuine option. Would it create unnecessary media nonsense over him though? SL would definitely consider things like that, especially if he doesn’t think he will use him this 6nations, or even this side of the WC.
Knowing the media, yes it probably would, although SL could deflect it by picking Cipriani on the bench…
I can see May as a desperate last-choice stand in but whilst we have other centres who are playing well in that position, it would seem silly not to call one up as cover
Worth noting that William Hill has Wales as 8/13 favourites
Not a surprise really. Our pack will hopefully limit the damage. But Wales must be seen as dead certs. However the first test in NZ gives me some hope. Similar circumstances (although different reasons) and we almost took them.
There is a vulnerability for England to look to exploit. Samson Lee, even if fit for the game, won’t have played for 6 weeks. Plus, he is a relative rookie and England have the strongest pool of looseheads in the world. I’m not sure whether our lineout will cope with the disruption but I’ve got a feeling we’ll have a significant advantage in the scrum
Do we know who the ref will be?
I think it’s the one who had a bit of a mare in the Wasps/ Leinster match. Garces?
Breakdown may be a bit of a worry.
I didn’t see that match. What did he do wrong?
Me neither but by all accounts he was very inconsistent especially at the breakdown. Should have sent off Johnson, disallowed a Wasps try that was good. I can’t gage whether it was to the advantage or detriment to one side over the other but it is not the sort of performance that gives confidence in such an important match.
Still I feel Wales are so odds on to win this that these kind of differentials will probably not matter.