The captain of the XV de la Rose risks a heavy suspension after a bad gesture during Gloucester-Saracens.
Will England be deprived of its master to play and captain during the Six Nations Tournament? The opener or center of Saracens was guilty of a dangerous tackle this weekend during the victory of his team on the lawn of Gloucester. In the 75th minute of the match, he indeed struck a shoulder charge in the face of opposing third line Jack Clement. A gesture which was not sanctioned during the game, but afterwards by the citing commissioner who gave him a red card and therefore triggered a disciplinary procedure.
Owen Farrell – regularly guilty of dangerous tackles – will appear before a disciplinary committee on Tuesday, he risks up to ten weeks of suspension (the average sanction being six weeks). A blow for the new English coach Steve Bortwick, successor to Eddie Jones, as the Tournament approaches. On Saturday February 4, England, coming out of a chaotic 2022, will kick off their Six Nations by hosting Scotland at Twickenham, before hosting Italy the following week.
Ellis Genge captain?
In the absence of Owen Farrell, Steve Borthwick, former coach of the Leicester Tigers, could be tempted to associate Marcus Smith (Harlequins), who is returning from injury (he should play this weekend in the Champions Cup against Racing 92), and George Ford, the opening half of Sale (ex-Leicester) who was no longer in Eddie Jones’ plans. Problem: George Ford is coming back from an injury (ruptured Achilles tendon) and should not return to competition until the end of January.
Another entry concern for Steve Borthwick: the question of the armband of the XV de la Rose. In the absence of Owen Farrell, logic dictates that the rough second or third row Courtney Lawes is the England captain, a function he has already assumed. But the Northampton player is currently injured, too. According to the specialized site Rugby Pass prop Ellis Genge, who Bortwick knew at Leicester, could inherit the armband.