The worrying 'no movement' England update on Courtney Lawes
Eddie Jones insists Courtney Lawes’ health is the number one priority after indicating that his preferred choice as England captain will play no part in the autumn. Lawes has made only one appearance this season because of the concussion sustained in Northampton’s defeat by Leicester on September 24, resulting in Owen Farrell being reappointed skipper for the 30-29 loss to Argentina.
But with the veteran Lions flanker still symptomatic as he progresses through the return to play protocols, Jones has all but ruled him out of the remaining Autumn Nations Series fixtures against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Even if England forward Lawes makes a rapid recovery over the coming days, a player who has a history of concussion – including a six-week spell out earlier this year – has only 49 minutes of rugby in the bank for 2022/23. “There is no movement with Courtney at the moment,” England head coach Jones said.
“Initially I kept in touch with Courtney but given that he needs some rest now rather than feeling like he has to rush to come back, we are allowing it to take its natural course. We are in communication with his medical staff but we are letting him rest and come back. We are hopeful that he will be back for the Six Nations and ready to go.
“I’m worried about his health at this time – that he gets back to 100 per cent health, but these things have a natural course – some heal quicker than others. If it takes a little bit of time, the most important thing is his health and he’ll get back to playing rugby when he’s ready.”
With Lawes out, Farrell will continue to lead England as they plot their recovery from their first loss to Argentina since 2009. Jones has taken responsibility for a flat display lacking in intensity, attacking cohesion and discipline, admitting that he had allowed planning for next year’s World Cup – where they will face the Pumas in the group phase – to distract from the task at hand. “Maybe our focus wasn’t tight enough on the Argentina game,” Jones said.
“When I reflect on the game, we had been looking at a number of long-term strategies that we are trying to employ to get ourselves set for the World Cup. We looked at times like we lacked a bit of energy, particularly in our attack. Maybe we are just overthinking a bit. That is entirely my fault.”
England have lost five of their nine Tests this year, a terrible statistic that Jones is determined to improve when Japan visit Twickenham on Saturday knowing the schedule gets harder with the arrival of heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa.
“I want us to be angry and play with a certain sort of anger. In a lot of ways I’m really pleased with how we played against Argentina, even though it wasn’t good enough,” Jones said. “We dominated territory and possession, but we just weren’t good enough at converting that pressure into points.
“To do that, we need to be a bit more aggressive and assertive in the way that we attack. I have got no doubt that we will do that against Japan. I want the anger to be under control, obviously. We know Japan always have a fast start – they always want to come out in the first 20 minutes, score early and set the tempo of the game – and we have to meet fire with fire early.”
Manu Tuilagi’s availability against Japan has yet to be confirmed after he limped off against Argentina because of a blister and Jones confirmed Jamie George is in contention after recovering from a foot injury. Raffi Quirke and Henry Arundell will play no part in the series, however, because of their respective wrist and ankle injuries.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments