1
England are currently without 320 caps through injury.
It’s a remarkable injury list, and apart from at hooker, Jones can claim to have a full XV of top-tier England internationals that he simply does not have access to.
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Jones told RugbyPass last week, “It’s definitely a difficult situation but like every selection there are good players out there. We’ve tried to find the best players who can replace some of the established guys and I think we’ve done that.”
Here’s a ‘missing in action’ England XV made up of players currently unavailable to Jones, be it through injury or ongoing disciplinary bans being served. We’ve cheated at hooker, a bit.
15 Alex Lozowski
Technically, Lozowski could be free to play on Monday, 29 October, after being cited for of entering a ruck dangerously. As it stands he will be available for selection when the first 23 of the series is announced on Tuesday 30th, although the ECPR have appealed a decision to overturn a red card tackle on Ruaridh Jackson in his side’s win over Glasgow Warriors.
14 Anthony Watson
The 24-year-old initially tore his Achille’s tendon in the Six Nations clash with Ireland in March, with a six-month lay-off reportedly expected at the time. But Bath revealed in August that his operation was not a success and he instead re-tore the tendon, with director of rugby Todd Blackadder refusing to put a date on a return.
13 Jonathan Joseph
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Jonathan Joseph’s 2017/18 season was ended after the centre suffered an injury to his left foot during the first half of Bath’s 41-6 defeat at Allianz Park in April. Speaking at the time, Bath Director of Rugby, Todd Blackadder, said: “JJ is going to need surgery to correct his injury. He will then need a lengthy period of time to rehabilitate.” Six months on and he is yet to return to the field.
12 Harry Mallinder
Northampton were dealt a massive injury blow this week with confirmation that Harry Mallinder likely to be out for the remainder of the season. Mallinder picked up a ligament injury in Northampton’s 41-20 home defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the European Challenge Cup ten days ago. He’s been on Eddie Jones’ radar – he was selected for the 2017 summer tour to Argentina and was in England’s 6 Nations squad for this 2018 Championship.
11 Marland Yarde
The Sale wing suffered a catastrophic knee injury against Newcastle two weeks ago and will not be back until next season.
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Although he seems off the menu for Jones, he won’t be available for selection thanks to an ECPR ban in any case. Even with the sanction being reduced by the maximum allowable of 50 per cent, he still has to serve a three-week suspension. He is free to play on Monday, 12 November 2018, so he will be unavailable for selection for at least two of England’s November Tests.
9 Dan Robson
This month Robson confirmed that he will need surgery on the ankle after being injured against Gloucester and expects to be sidelined until January.
1 Mako Vunipola
The 27-year-old prop, capped 51 times by England, suffered a calf strain in his club’s European Champions Cup loss to Glasgow Warriors on Sunday and Sarries confirmed he will be sidelined for “around six weeks”. As back-up in the injury XV, Ellis Genge is also currently sidelined. Genge suffered by a knee injury and not expected back for some time.
2 Jamie George
Although he suffered a broken nose against Glasgow Warriors, George has been selected by Jones and will be available come England’s first test against South Africa. Thanks Jamie, your availability has spoiled our team.
3 Jake Cooper-Wooley
While he’s yet to win an England cap, at 28-years-old the 6’3, 127kg tighthead is just coming into his prime propping years. He underwent surgery on a bicep rupture sustained during a previousPortugal camp and was given an estimated injury lay-off of six to eight weeks in late August.
4 Joe Launchbury
Wasps captain Joe Launchbury was last week ruled out for 12 weeks after opting for surgery to solve a recurring knee problem. A massive loss of leadership for England and Wasps.
5 Nick Isiekwe
Isiekwe suffered an ankle sprain and was assessed by a consultant, who diagnosed a syndesmosis injury of his ankle. He will miss the whole November Test series.
6 Chris Robshaw
Harlequins recently revealed that Robshaw has had surgery on a knee injury sustained in the 25-20 defeat to Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership two weeks ago.
7 Sam Simmonds
It was announced at the start of the month that Exeter and England looseforward Sam Simmonds is set for at least six months out after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
8 Billy Vunipola
Vunipola is currently sidelined after suffering a fractured left arm against Glasgow and underwent surgery on Tuesday. The 128kg forward is expected to be out of action for around 12 weeks.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments