JAMES HASKELL AND Jack Clifford face medical assessments ahead of England’s Six Nations opener with France next weekend, after suffering injuries on club duty.
Haskell, who only returned to action earlier this month following a lengthy lay-off brought about by major toe surgery, and fellow back-row forward Clifford were each named in a 34-man squad by Eddie Jones last week.
However, on Monday, it was confirmed the duo will remain in the UK rather than attending a training camp in Portugal.
A statement from England Rugby read: “Jack Clifford [Harlequins] and James Haskell [Wasps] will not fly to Portugal to join up with England’s RBS 6 Nations training squad.
“Both players sustained injuries in their club games on Sunday and were due to arrive in Vilamoura today [Monday] but will instead stay in the UK to undergo further medical assessments, after which a decision will be made on when they join up with England.”
Haskell, whose initial comeback for Wasps was cut short by a head injury, started his club’s European Champions Cup tie against Zebre on Sunday.
After that match, the 31-year-old told BBC 5 Live’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast: “I tried to do the basics well. I’ve obviously got a bit of discomfort in the foot, but you are always going to have that.”
England head coach Jones has already seen his back-row options depleted by the loss of ex-skipper Chris Robshaw to injury.
Saracens star Maro Itoje, highly influential at lock in his international career to date, is believed to be in contention to start at number six against France.
The maul tries would not have been so easily scored if Klyne had been playing. He is invaluable to Munster an absolute brick wall in defence.
Didn’t look good now. Should never have Glasgow come away with bonus point. As for Jager, there’s a reason he’s at munster and not at La Rochelle or Toulouse. Let’s not get carried away with this guy folks.
@Ray Ridge: is it that he has ambitions of playing international rugby? Or that he values player welfare?
@Ray Ridge: easy does it Ray. He might not tech the heights of your interprovincial career or international prospects but give him a little time before cutting the legs from him.
@David O’Flynn: Time?? 6 years at the Crusaders and failed to make it as an all black. I doubt a year or two at munster will make a difference. No harm or offence.
@Ray Ridge: Was that last sentence a pun there Ray? This lads father is Harm Jager.
Harm Jager is a Dutch strength and conditioning coach who worked (works?) in Ireland but I can’t remember who for, Football? Rugby?
I remember him in connection with Niall Quinn I think.
@Ray Ridge: Neither did Aki, JGP or Lowe make it to the ABs but they made it into the Irish side.
You seem to be very quick to judge. Judge as you wish to be judged is a good philosophy, irrespective of any religious connotations.
They seemed to try and drop it (lineout) a few times, but Loughman wasn’t able to pull the man down and so gave away momentum and never got behind it, and they only contested once (from 5m). Jager seems a little off the fitness level but looks like a bouncer at Mullingars 3 best nightclub which is exactly what’s needed. Hope he goes well. No need for that reverse scrum penalty for one of the maul tries.
I have to agree with Matt Williams article last week about how the proliferation of maul tries. I agree it is ruining the game. They have to think of a way of Dix our aging it and encouraging the running option.
@John dunne: discouraging!
@John dunne: Ugh. Matt Williams is awful, Ray Ridge is even better.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the match but it is a great result. The fact that there’s areas to improve upon means Munster will get even stronger. The return match with Leinster will be a tough one, I can’t see Munster losing it.
Remember, Glasgow have a very strong team this year, so no mean result overall! That’s in spite of their BP, which needs to be looked at in terms of the overall scoring by Munster. If Munster had lost, yeah I’d complain but it’s a great score to put on a strong team.