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England sweating on fitness of Kyle Sinckler ahead of Wales clash
By PA
Kyle Sinckler’s availability for England’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales has been thrown into doubt by a facial injury.
Sinckler has been omitted from a 26-man squad that will take part in a three-day training camp in London this week, although he will be present to receive treatment from England’s medics.
The Bristol prop departed as a blood replacement in the 50th minute of Saturday’s 31-14 victory over Italy and was unable to return, resulting in Dan Cole finishing the game at tighthead.
Sinckler impressed against Scotland and Italy, playing his part in England’s set-piece revival and showing high work rate on both sides of the ball, and it will be hoped he can recover in time for the trip to Cardiff on Saturday week.
Steve Borthwick can at least call on Will Stuart as his replacement, although he will have concerns over the Bath front row’s lack of game time despite including him among the 26.
Stuart has not played since dislocating his elbow in the climax to the autumn against South Africa and his most recent club outing was against Saracens in October, upon which he faced another spell out because of knee damage.
If Sinckler’s wound fails to heal sufficiently, Cole and Stuart will battle it out for the number three jersey against Warren Gatland’s men.
FORWARDS
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 97 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 11 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 74 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 64 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 76 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 7 caps)
BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 4 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 103 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, 2 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 16 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 53 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
ENDS
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Latest Comments
Marcus Smith perhaps, but not Finn Russel. He did nothing against the Springboks, whereas Marcus Smith was consistently outstanding in all the games he played. Had he stayed on the park against the All Blacks, then England would probably have won the game
Go to commentsFor sure the other union players sacked up and delivered the goods; the Bay of Plenty boys were especially hard.
But the Auckland players from the Blues? Paper gumboots in a shtstorm.
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