1
Northampton issue update on Lawes 'Frankenstein's monster' injury
By PA
Courtney Lawes has been labelled “Frankenstein’s monster” because of his gruesome thumb injury, but Northampton insist he could still have a part to play this season. Saints head coach Phil Dowson has revealed that the damage sustained against Gloucester earlier this month is not structural but he is unable to give a precise timeline for the player’s return.
It raises the prospect of Lawes being available for England’s tour of Australia, as well as the closing stages of the Northampton battle for fourth place in the Gallagher Premiership. “The scan revealed there was nothing broken but obviously it was an open dislocation so he has been stitched up with a number of stitches,” Dowson said.
“It’s pretty early days and there is nothing broken. There is ligament damage, tendon damage, bits and pieces like that… he looks a bit like Frankenstein’s monster! So a weird injury, but he is not too bad.”
Lawes, 33, has produced some of the best rugby of his career over the last twelve months and is a central figure in Eddie Jones’ plans for the three-Test series against the Wallabies in July. With Owen Farrell’s availability this term limited by repeated ankle injuries, Lawes emerged as a popular replacement as England captain, leading the side five times.
“It would be a massive lift for us if he’s back because he’s a very good player and that helps us,” Dowson said. “You know that when Courtney is suited up and ready to play, you have got a world-class six/second row in the squad. His leadership style is not subdued, but fairly quiet, but you know that him being there will give confidence to a lot of the people around him.”
Northampton have climbed to fourth place in the Premiership on the back of four successive victories and on Friday night they host champions Harlequins at Franklin’s Gardens. “What this season has proved is that everyone loses to everyone and everyone beats everyone,” Dowson said.
“It’s only the top two, Saracens and Leicester, who have been consistent throughout the season. It’s very tight and it’s been very tight all year, all the way down to the bottom. It’s an exciting league.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
Go to comments