England battle more injuries
After losing captain Owen Farrell, leading to the recall of George Ford, England head coach Eddie Jones has now had to make further adjustments to his Six Nations squad with two further significant injuries.
Lock Courtney Lawes, who was in line to replace Farrell as captain, has been sidelined with a head injury while Gloucester winger Jonny May has pulled out with a knee injury.
In their place Jones has called up Saracens duo Nick Isiekwe and Saracens Elliot Daly although he’s delayed naming a new captain to replace Farrell who’s will be missing for at least the tournament opening against Scotland on February 5.
That could be because Lawes does have a chance of making the Murrayfield clash, but May will likely miss England’s first two games.
Simmonds on song
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter wants Sam Simmonds’ form to earn him an England chance in the Six Nations.
Simmonds marked his 100th game for the club with a hat-trick of tries in the Chiefs’ 37-26 Champions Cup defeat away to Montpellier.
Simmonds’ exploits came two days after his main rival for the England No8 shirt, Alex Dombrandt, picked up the man-of-the-match award in Harlequins’ dramatic home win over Castres.
“He is bang on form and playing very, very well. I hope he gets some recognition with England now, although it is going to be a difficult decision for Eddie Jones to make between him and Alex,” Baxter told the Press Association.
“But that’s what you want as a coach, players knocking each other over with man-of-the-match performances trying to prove a point. I don’t think Eddie will be too disappointed about that.”
Van der Flier a doubt for opener
Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier is a doubt for their opener against Wales after sustaining a minor hamstring injury while playing for Leinster at Bath on the weekend.
Teammate Jordan Larmour also suffered a facial injury in that game but is expected to be fit for the game at the Aviva Stadium on February 5.
Tadhg Furlong (calf) and James Ryan (hamstring) are other doubts, having not played for Leinster since January 16 but are said to be "making good progress” with the international team.
Dupont honoured
France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been named the Rugby Union Writers’ Club’s personality of the year for 2021.
A stellar 12 months saw the 25-year-old also win the European and World Player of the Year awards after excelling for Les Bleus and also claiming a Champions Cup and Top 14 double with Toulouse.
Dupont, who succeeds Exeter director of rugby, Rob Baxter, as holder of the Pat Marshall Memorial Award, is expected to miss France’s Six Nations opener against Italy on February 6 having recently tested positive for Covid-19.
