CADAN MURLEY HAS been ruled out of England’s clash with France on Saturday with a foot problem that could rule him out of the remainder of the Guinness Six Nations.
Murley sustained the injury in the round-one defeat by Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and will undergo a scan in two weeks to assess whether he can return for the back end of the Championship.
The Harlequins wing has been replaced in Steve Borthwick’s squad by Saracens centre Alex Lozowski, the Rugby Football Union has announced.
It is a cruel setback for Murley, who made his Test debut at the Aviva Stadium but will now miss at least the Allianz Stadium appointments with France and Scotland that England must win to save their Six Nations.
If the injury heals quickly, he could become available for the fixtures against Italy and Wales that close out the tournament.
Murley is one of the Gallagher Premiership’s sharpest finishers and he celebrated his first cap by running in the opening try against Ireland, although two conspicuous errors behind the goal-line invited pressure on to England.
Ollie Sleightholme, Tom Roebuck and Elliot Daly are the contenders to fill the number 11 jersey when head coach Borthwick names his team on Thursday.
Did they get Maro to step on his foot?
That’s a plus he was cause of two tries. Ibotoye from Bristol is the man
@Gary Galligan: …hope the lad is OK, but Je5us wept,his was an absolute horror show so being unavailable is a blessing for him.
Gregor Townshend has given a press conference today ahead of the Scotland game. Very surprised the42 haven’t reported on it yet. It’s in the Irish Times. He’s basically saying that the long losing run vs Ieeland takes a mental toll and that we’ll do our best to end it but Ireland have been better. Very unlike him. Is he trying to prepare the media for a defeat? He’s under pressure to deliver something in the Six Nations.
@Conor Lynott: surely Townsend is on his last chance, I like the guy but he’s delivered nothing with a good squad, and he’s there as long as i can remember
@Cian Halley: ….very true
@Cian Halley: Good squad but not good enough. Only 2 or 3 would be considered for Irush or French teams. They are as good as they’ve finished each year
@Noel Lynn: They are better than England and the English ran amok last Saturday before our bench was unleashed. We have to give them respect and build for a tough game.
Townsend is just playing games with his comments, he will set out to bring Ireland down and his comments are just part of that strategy.
@Conor Lynott: I think there have been too many times when they have been very bullish about their chances and it has got replayed in the Irish media a lot. Not sure its a sign of fragility, maybe they’re even quietly confident.
@Con Cussed: think you should rewatch the game. Ireland were well on top, just bungled several entries into the 22. England rarely looked like scoring after the first quarter and until the game was dead.
He was nailed on to be dropped anyway. Dreadful. Had me screaming at the tv every time he touched the ball. Nowhere near international class. Early try was a bit flukey.
@QuinsStoop: think it was the nicest way to drop him , might of got injured in the changing rooms after the game ?