England’s injury crisis showed no signs of slowing down with Mako Vunipola ruled out of the autumn internationals.
Vunipola, who limped off during Saracens’ Champions Cup clash with Glasgow last weekend, joins brother Billy on the sidelines with a calf injury and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Saracens have also confirmed Nick Isiekwe faces eight weeks out with an ankle injury.
“Mako’s got a calf injury, so it looks like it’s going to be around six weeks,” Saracens’ rugby director Mark McCall said. “It’s a tear in his calf, it doesn’t require surgery.
“Nick [Isiekwe] will be around eight weeks, it’s a syndesmosis injury of his ankle. That doesn’t require surgery either.”
Eddie Jones will name his squad for the autumn internationals on Thursday and he will be counting an ever-increasing injury list which Chris Robshaw joined on Tuesday after undergoing knee surgery.
With Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge both absent through injury and Joe Marler retired from international rugby, England will have to look at a new option at loose-head. The options at No.8 are also sparse with Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds both injured and Nathan Hughes facing a potential suspension.
However, Jones was handed a boost at centre after it was confirmed Alex Lozowski would be available for November’s internationals.