The 2020 Autumn Nations Cup ‘absent XV’: Six Englishmen set to miss out
Rugby NewsWednesday, 30 September 2020 at 10:55
As the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup rolls into town once again, an ill-fortuned group of key players must come to terms with the prospect of watching their team-mates from the sidelines.
Here are 10 international rugby players who could miss the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup through injury.
Fullback: Joey Carbery (Ireland)
The versatile playmaker will be out of action for “an indefinite period of time” as he continues to rehabilitate his injured ankle. It had been hoped that Carbery would return some time this month but he has been advised that the recovery from his ankle injury will take longer than expected
Winger: Liam Williams (Wales)
Williams has barely played since suffering a tournament-ending lower leg injury ahead of Wales’ Rugby World Cup semi-final with South Africa last year. Since joining the Scarlets he has not represented them and is battling a foot injury.
Centre: Manu Tuilagi (England)
Tuilagi hurt his achilles against Northampton Saints. He needed assistance to leave the field after injuring his left Achilles when he was hauled down by Saints defenders after a powerful run from inside his own 22. The 29-year-old left Franklin's Gardens on crutches with Steve Diamond revealing it doesn't look good.
Centre: Cory Allen (Wales)
The centre is a long-term absentee as he battles back from a serious knee injury. Allen damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and a cartilage while playing for the Ospreys against Ulster last September. He underwent surgery on the cartilage two weeks later, with the ligament problem requiring a subsequent reconstruction, his region indicated in a press statement at the time.
Winger: Will Addison (Ireland)
Ulster and Ireland have been dealt an injury blow after it was revealed that the versatile speedster has suffered a setback in recovering from a back injury and will be out for "several months". Addison has undergone surgery on the problem, but Ulster have not stated a concrete return date.
Fly-half: Gareth Anscombe (Wales)
The fly-half remains on a long road to recovery after suffering knee ligament damage during Wales’ World Cup warm-up match against England 13 months ago. There is no set date for his return.
Even worse for Wales, Dan Biggar worrying limped off Saints against Sale on Tuesday night.
Scrum-half. Conor Murray (Ireland)
Murray picked up a thigh injury in that defeat on September 4 and while Munster boss Johann van Graan said the British & Irish Lion was “progressing well”, he would not speculate on a return date. It might be good to see Luke McGrath or John Cooney get an opportunity to make the Ireland nine shirt their own.
Wales' Tomos Williams will also miss the whole Autumn after suffering a shoulder injury in the Blues’ first game back in action against the Scarlets in August. He is expected to be sidelined for another two to three months.
Prop: Joe Marler (England)
A victim of the sheer amount of games since lockdown, the loosehead-prop has been battling on through an ongoing knee problem. Marler, who has openly criticised Premiership Rugby's scheduling, hit the headlines on his last England appearance by grabbing Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones by the crotch. Bath prop Beno Obano is someone that could feature for England as a possible replacement.
Hooker: Sam Matavesi (Fiji)
The hooker limped off during Northampton Saints defeat against Sale Sharks. It looked like a calf injury, but there has been no update.
Prop: Demba Bamba (France)
The scrummaging powerhouse has been struggling with an ongoing thigh injury, which he also struggled with at last years Rugby World Cup. Bamba will be touch and go for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup, according to his club Lyon.
Lock: Joe Launchbury (England)
The Wasps captain left the field early on his 150th appearance for the club as they breezed past Bristol Bears at the Ricoh Arena in early September. Early signs were that it could be a pretty bad calf injury with James Gaskell replacing him. If it does prove to be serious, that would leave Jones without Launchbury and George Kruis after the Saracens star made his move to Japan.
Lock: Courtney Lawes (England)
The Northampton Saints lock hobbled off with a knee injury against Sale Sharks as things went from bad to worse for Eddie Jones. The 31-year-old jumped for a high kick, but when returning to earth appeared to catch his studs in the turf and twist his right leg back at a painful angle before limping off, aided by Saints’ medical staff. It doesn't look good.
Flanker: Aaron Shingler (Wales)
Last month it was revealed that he suffered a complication after being taken ill during lockdown and he will be taking no part in rugby any time soon. He will be sidelined until at least December.
Flanker: Ellis Jenkins (Wales)
The all-action openside is still sidelined after suffering a serious knee injury in the autumn of 2018. He's recently returned to training following a prolonged period of rehabilitation, but is a long way off right now.
Number 8: Mark Wilson (England)
The back-rower has only made one start since the 2019 Rugby World Cup during a disasterous, injury-ravaged loan spell with Sale Sharks. Now back at Newcastle Falcons, he won't have played a game in close to seven months when the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup kicks off. With a number of young back-rowers, such as Jack Willis, Ted Hill and Alex Dombrandt pushing for a call-up, the 30-year-old could miss out.
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