2018 Autumn International: A composite XV of injured star players
Rugby NewsMonday, 15 October 2018 at 19:53
Injuries have been the main story leading into the 2018 internationals, so Steve Smith has put together an Injured XV that includes some of the best players in the world:
Fullback: Anthony Watson (England)
The Bath Rugby, England and Lions star has re-injured the tendon in July and was back on crutches and needed a second operation. It means the 24-year-old is unlikely to play for club or country before the end of this year.
Winger: Duncan Taylor (Scotland)
Taylor has damaged both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee and now faces a race against time to be fit for the Rugby World Cup next year.
Centre: Jonathan Joseph (England)
The outside-centre is currently to expected to return "around Christmas time" after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury in April.
Centre: Mark Bennett (Scotland)
He is unlikely to play again this year after suffering a ruptured hamstring in September.
Winger: Ashley Beck (Wales)
His injury-blighted career has been dealt another cruel blow with news the Welsh centre broke his leg in Worcester's European Challenge Cup win at Stade Francais.
Fly-half: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
The full-back, fly-half for oru XV, picked up an ankle injury early in Glasgow's win over Munster on 7 September but carried on to play most of the match. He travelled to South Africa but did not feature in Warriors' Pro14 win over Cheetahs. Hogg was subsequently sent back to Scotland for surgery and is now set to be out for about 10-12 weeks.
Scrum-half: Dan Robson (England)
His ankle injury is worse than first feared after Wasps revealed he has been ruled out until January.
Prop: Ellis Genge (England)
The baby rhino is expected to be out of action until early 2019 after undergoing knee surgery, the 23-year-old's club Leicester Tigers back in July.
Hooker: Ornel Gega (Italy)
He remains out with a knee injury.
Prop: Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
He appears certain to miss Scotland’s Autumn Internationals after needing surgery on his lower-leg injury in October.
Lock: Richie Gray (Scotland)
Gray has been ruled out of the autumn internationals and at least part of the Six Nations through injury. The Toulouse second-row, 29, needs a back operation and club boss Ugo Mola confirmed he will be sidelined for "around four months".
Lock: Joe Launchbury (England)
Wasps confirmed earlier this week that the 27-year-old lock has undergone knee surgery and faces 10 to 12 weeks out.It means the 54 times-capped forward will miss England's appointments with South Africa, world champions New Zealand, Japan and Australia next month.
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Flanker: Sam Simmonds (England)
The Exeter back-rower faces an uphill battle to feature at the Rugby World Cup next year after being ruled out for between six and nine months with a major knee ligament injury.
Flanker: Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Taulupe Faletau is expected to miss Wales' autumn internationals after breaking his arm in Bath's loss to Exeter. No timescale has yet been put on the No 8's recovery but it is a major blow for Bath and Wales as he could realistically face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Number 8: Billy Vunipola (England)
ill miss England's autumn internationals after breaking his left arm in their Champions Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors on Sunday. The 25-year-old needs surgery and will be out of action for up to 12 weeks. He recently returned to action after fracturing his right arm during England's summer tour of South Africa.
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