In a double injury blow for England, the British & Irish Lions duo of Luke Cowan-Dickie and Anthony Watson have been ruled out of the November Test programme.
No sooner had Cowan-Dickie (who suffered an ankle injury in Exeter’s win at Wasps last week) been replaced by Saracens hooker Jamie George in a 34-man squad for upcoming Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa when Watson was sidelined.
The Bath wing, whose England squad place has now been taken by Harlequins flyer Joe Marchant, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a humiliating 71-17 loss to Saracens. The injury may also keep him out of next year’s Six Nations championship.
One consolation for England is that utility forward Maro Itoje should be available to face Tonga at Twickenham on 6 November despite the Saracens star suffering a shoulder injury against Bath.
The 28-year-old Cowan-Dickie established himself as England’s first-choice hooker during the Six Nations and played in all three Tests for the Lions in South Africa.
Having scored 22 tries in 56 Tests, Watson started in the first and second Lions internationals against the Springboks, and all three Tests on the 2017 tour to New Zealand. His absence will leave Jonny May, Adam Radwan, Tommy Freeman and Marchant vying for the England wing berths next month.
“We are all feeling Anthony’s disappointment right now,” said Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper.
“He is a remarkable athlete who will put as much work into his rehabilitation as he does into his on-field performance. We know Anthony will come back stronger from this and we will support him every step of the way.”
Cowan-Dickie’s unavailability for next month’s internationals means Saracens stalwart George finds himself back in the Red Rose squad just a day after he was one of four senior players omitted by England coach Jones, including brothers Billy and Mako Vunipola as well as flyhalf George Ford.
Jones insisted on Monday there was a need to freshen up his squad in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
“We could have the most experienced side at the World Cup but whether they’ve got that will to go that extra 10% and find that discretionary effort … that’s something I’m trying to find out at the moment,” the veteran Australian coach said.
George, capped 59 times by his country, and Marchant, who has just one start in six Test appearances, will join an England squad that will travel to Jersey on Monday for a five-day training camp ahead of the Tonga match.
England play Australia on 13 November before facing world champions South Africa one week later in a rematch of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Image
