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Jones 'cautiously optimistic' over Farrell ahead of Ireland clash

19 Jan 2019

England boss Eddie Jones.

England boss Eddie Jones is “cautiously optimistic” Owen Farrell will be fit for the Six Nations opener against Ireland, despite needing surgery to fix a thumb injury.

Farrell – who this week was named England’s captain with Dylan Hartley ruled out for the start of the tournament with a knee issue – sat out Saracens’ European Champions Cup fixture with Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

Director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed to BT Sports that the fly-half required “a simple procedure” at the base of his thumb and his recovery could take up to 10 days.

While the timeframe is tight with the Ireland game on February 2, Jones is upbeat over the influential 27-year-old’s chances of featuring at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

“I came from Saracens, they had a good win. We’re cautiously optimistic, he should be alright,” he told Sky Sports News.

Jones and his players head for Portugal on Wednesday for a training camp before the Australian names his 25-man party to face Ireland on January 31.

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

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England v Wales | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

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Comments on RugbyPass

Mark 12 minutes ago

Only two Wallabies would get in this Lions side – Andy Goode

I think that chessum should have got the nod over Beirne, he’s a better lineout option, bigger, faster and more physical.

The teams a bit too irish centred for me.

And Australia should not be underestimated, the Lions have been just OK against some very average opposition.

1 Go to comments

SC 18 minutes ago

Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

No Lord is not a starter for the Chiefs as he often is used off the bench with Va’ai and Naitoa Ah Kuoi are the Chiefs preferred locks.

125 Go to comments

SC 23 minutes ago

Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

I completely agree with Holland becoming a 4 tight lock but I think that is the next RWC cycle as Holland still has to mature physically and become more mongral

125 Go to comments

FD 27 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Sure. But outhalf makes sense. what dafuq does “first five eighth” even mean?

12 Go to comments

AD 33 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

I think that Sua’ali’i was mentioned by Hamish early during a phase when RA were sneering for no obvious reason. I think buying him early (as they did) scuttled the PE offer that was supposed to be on the table and meant they had to borrow $s

98 Go to comments

Blessing 44 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

All rugby nations have their terminology and idiosyncrasies. Irish call the number 10 an outhalf, Kiwis call them a first five eighths. Saffas put their six and seven on opposing sides of the scrum. Everybody is different. Who cares?

12 Go to comments

FD 52 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

When did kiwis stop calling the 10 a flyhalf?

12 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Willie John McBride doubles down on Lions critique, suggests renaming

By that logic you’d have been asleep for a very long time…

48 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Willie John McBride doubles down on Lions critique, suggests renaming

Total rubbish! McBrides 99 call was their way of fighting fire with fire in the pitch, and it worked.

As for the rest, it’s easy to sit in retrospective judgement. Particularly when today’s athletes are far more protected from similar situations. Or perhaps you’re telling us that every Russian/Belarus athlete should be banned from all international sport currently?

48 Go to comments

AD 1 hour ago

'Can we all stop moaning about the Lions, please?'

Thanks for this. I’ll be up at 2:45 am in California to watch the first test tomorrow. Can’t wait.

Here in the US (all the games are free to watch) we get the Aussie commentators during the games and I love their blend of technical knowledge and enthusiasm. The England Argentina games had South African announcers including Joel Stransky and they were so, so good. So much better than the English announcers which are often dreary or chihuahua-like.

Any thoughts, Paul?

5 Go to comments

Hammer Head 2 hours ago

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

Finn knows. He knows everything…

8 Go to comments

Hammer Head 2 hours ago

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

Indeed. I look forward to you crawling out of your foxhole to remind me to deny making this claim if it should come to pass.

I remember having this very same engagement with you about SFM. In which you were wrong. Again.

Anyway… I’ll give you an opportunity to deny making the claim that SFM wouldn’t play for the boks as soon as he did (and I said he would).

There’ll be space for someone like Pead in the opening games of 2026. He’s too good not to try out.