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England suffer major blow as Ellis Genge tests positive for Covid

12 Nov 2021

(Photo by PA)

Ellis Genge has become the second England loosehead to test positive for Covid this week and has been ruled out of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series match versus Australia at Twickenham. Joe Marler, who came on as a replacement for Genge in last weekend’s win over Tonga, had tested positive at the start of this week for the virus and he immediately went into isolation.

With just Genge and Trevor Davison the only remaining two looseheads left available in the England squad at that time, Eddie Jones called up the uncapped Bevan Rodd and the 21-year-old Sale prop was named on the bench behind Genge on Thursday for Saturday’s match versus the Wallabies.

However, the England selection needed to be revisited when it emerged on Friday that Genge had tested positive and it has resulted in Rodd getting promoted to the starting loosehead role with the one-cap Davison coming onto the England bench.

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An RFU statement read: “Ellis Genge has tested positive for Covid. Genge returned a positive PCR result on Friday morning from a test taken on Thursday morning. He immediately went into isolation.

“No other positive test results were received among players or staff. The group has undergone an additional round of LFT and PCR testing today [Friday]. The squad have trained this morning at Twickenham Stadium ahead of Saturday’s match.”

It has been an incredible week for the 21-year-old Rodd who started it at Sale and will end it as the starting England loosehead versus Australia#England #ENGvAUS #AutumnNationsSeries #Wallabies #Sharks https://t.co/Ay3cxcMFNK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2021

England’s issues with Covid began on Thursday of last week when a staff member tested positive, a development that resulted in an additional round of testing. This led to Owen Farrell returning a positive test and although this was later confirmed to be a false negative, that finding came too late for him to keep his place in the team that went on to beat Tonga.

Whereas last week, England cut their squad down to 28 in the lead-up to the match versus the Tongans, they decided this week to retain all players in camp rather than release them back to their clubs as an extra precaution to guard against Covid. However, that safeguard wasn’t enough to prevent Genge from contracting the virus and his ten-day isolation period will also rule him out of next weekend’s match versus the Springboks.

Only once in his 38 previous starts for England since 2011 has the 30-year-old Tuilagi started on the wing#England #ENGvAUS #AutumnNationsSeries #Wallabies https://t.co/egLWdw7V4z
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2021

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TM 21 minutes ago

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Imagine the media outcry if Rassie Erasmus had made the Joe Schmidt comment about the referee. Give him a three match ban.

Tizzano is there first by less than 1/2 second, only because he came in from the side then moved his left leg behind the tackled player (penalty)

As Morgan is about a foot away and slightly lower by an inch, Tizzana lowers head in that 1/2 second below his own waist height (ie, penalty, although rarely given) and Morgan’s left arm and shoulder while starting level with Tizzano’s s right shoulder slides over Tizzano back of neck / shoulder. Tizzano’s head at this point is below both Morgan’s shoulkder / chest and Tizzano’s own shoulder.

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Hammer Head 36 minutes ago

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Carlos 41 minutes ago

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People should look at the red card that Rubiolo from the Pumas got against England a few days ago. It was much milder action than Morgan’s but got YC and an upgrade to red. Not identical cases but you can clearly see the different outcomes.

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago

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What language would you prefer to liaise in? You seem to be struggling with English.

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Hellhound 1 hour ago

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BS 2 hours ago

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Good ragebait article. Bad actual article

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Wayneo 2 hours ago

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Wayneo 3 hours ago

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🤣😂

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JH 3 hours ago

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I don’t have to convince anyone. They looked at it on TMO during the game and made a decision

Ironically, where I think the Aussies might have cause for complaint is Jac going off his feet. To be precise Genge flying in off his feet and landing on Jac putting him on his knees. So both off their feet

But it looks like that isn’t what the Aussies asked the officials to look at

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DP 3 hours ago

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alfiebart@btinternet.com 4 hours ago

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