England’s build-up to the Guinness Six Nations has been disrupted by their first outbreak of Covid after Joe Marler examined optimistic for the second time in three months.
Marler’s case was confirmed by lateral circulate and PCR exams on Tuesday morning and the Harlequins prop has withdrawn from Eddie Jones’ 36-man squad that’s coaching in Brighton this week.
He was pressured to overlook the autumn victory over Australia for a similar cause, however subsequently returned as a alternative in opposition to South Africa every week later.
England have opted in opposition to calling in a alternative however with the 31-year-old’s interval of self-isolation lasting into subsequent week, his availability for the opener in opposition to Scotland at Murrayfield on February 5 is now doubtful.
It’s the newest upheaval to a squad that has already misplaced Owen Farrell and Jonny Could to respective ankle and knee accidents that might but finish their Six Nations, whereas Courtney Lawes cannot prepare this week due to concussion.
Could’s participation hinges on a go to to a specialist this week, with the Gloucester wing set to overlook at the very least the opening two rounds.
An ongoing knee drawback has obtained progressively worse, leading to his absence in opposition to Perpignan on Saturday and subsequent withdrawal from Jones’ squad on Monday.
Could has been an ever-present below Jones since 2017 and is an influential member of the backline, making a highlights reel of spectacular tries, however he now faces a race in opposition to time to become involved in England’s title quest.
The February 26 showdown with Wales at Twickenham is the earliest he can be again, however the nation’s second most prolific try-scorer behind Rory Underwood may be taking a look at a lengthier lay-off.
“Jonny’s seeing some individuals this week, however it would positively be an excellent couple of weeks. He’s seeing the perfect of the perfect,” Gloucester head coach George Skivington stated.
“He’s had a niggle for a short while and it stored him out of 1 recreation just a few weeks in the past. It’s simply been chipping away and it obtained to some extent the place it wasn’t nice, so we determined to get it investigated.
“As soon as we all know precisely what the story is we’ll have a greater thought concerning the damage. It will have been one incident just a few weeks in the past, however he’s been managing his approach by it, as typically talking senior gamers do, and it simply obtained a little bit an excessive amount of.
“The hope is that he’ll nonetheless play within the Six Nations. If he could be again concerned within the Six Nations then nice. It’s unlucky for Jonny as a result of we’d wish to see him taking part in for England.
“There aren’t too many who will nail their rehab like Jonny. He’s on it each day anyway when he’s absolutely match, doing all his pre-hab. When he comes again I’m certain he’ll be completely flying.”
Whereas Could faces an anxious wait, one other of Gloucester’s stars is hoping to revenue from damage.
Mark Atkinson, the 31-year-old late bloomer, may gain advantage from Farrell’s ankle with a emptiness at inside centre opening up as he appears so as to add to his alternative look in opposition to Tonga within the autumn.
“I believe Mark’s the perfect attacking 12 within the league. He can straighten the line-up, he can carry laborious, he’s obtained smooth arms and may offload,” Skivington stated.
“He’s obtained nice imaginative and prescient for the place the house is. If you wish to play an attacking model of rugby then there’s nobody higher than Mark Atkinson at 12.
“In the event you put him with Marcus Smith then you definately’ll critically problem defences as a result of they’ll not know the place to go. He smashes individuals in defence as nicely.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
