England’s hopes for Six Nations glory have taken a severe blow before the tournament even begins, with the news that several key players will miss the opening match against Ireland on February 1st. Most notably, vice-captain and starting hooker Jamie George has been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in club action over the weekend. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is also a major doubt as he continues to recover from a knee issue.
The loss of George especially comes as a bitter pill for head coach Eddie Jones to swallow. The Saracens stalwart has been a rock in the front row for England, starting 49 of his 54 caps since debuting in 2015. His leadership and world-class all-around game will be sorely missed against an Irish pack renowned for their physicality and cohesion.
Losing Jamie is a real setback. He’s one of the best hookers in the world and a huge part of our team on and off the pitch. We’ll rally around him and make sure he’s fit and firing for the rest of the tournament.
– Eddie Jones, England Head Coach
Backline Depth Tested
While George’s absence leaves a gaping hole up front, England’s backline stocks have also been decimated by the injury bug. Electric scrum-half Mitchell would have been pushing incumbent Ben Youngs hard for a starting berth, but now faces a race against time to even make the match day 23. His Northampton teammate Alex Coles had been tipped for a breakout tournament but misses out entirely after hurting his knee on the weekend.
With Jack van Poortvliet and Alex Dombrandt also sidelined, Jones will have to dig deep into his reserves and reshuffle his intended selections. The Australian is no stranger to adversity, having steered England to a World Cup final and three Six Nations titles during his tenure, but the sheer volume of absentees this time around is unprecedented.
Ireland Lying in Wait
Looming large on the horizon is a trip to Dublin to face an in-form Ireland side that humbled the All Blacks in November. Andy Farrell’s men will smell blood in the water given England’s injury woes, with the battle at the breakdown and in the air shaping up as decisive.
- Ireland have won three of the last five meetings between the sides
- England haven’t tasted victory in Dublin since 2019
A fast start will be imperative for the visitors to quieten the home crowd and build belief. But with so many moving parts and new combinations to bed in, England face an uphill battle to hit the ground running. It will take every ounce of Jones’ guile and motivational powers to mastermind an against-the-odds triumph.
We know how tough it is to go to Dublin and win. They are an excellent side and will be licking their lips seeing some of our guys out. But we’ve still got plenty of class and character in this group. It’s a chance for other blokes to step up and make a statement.
– Owen Farrell, England Captain
Tournament Outlook
An opening defeat would be a hammer blow for England’s title aspirations in such a compact tournament. With trips to Cardiff and Edinburgh on the horizon, and a resurgent France lying in wait, the path to glory looks decidedly treacherous from this vantage point.
Jones and his resilient charges are nothing if not fighters though. Staring down the barrel of adversity has been a hallmark of their recent history, from the “miracle of Brighton” at the 2015 World Cup to reaching the final four years later after early struggles. If any team can overcome such a rash of injuries, it’s this battle-hardened England outfit.
With the World Cup looming large in September, how England navigate this crisis may well define the dying days of the Jones era. Expectation will be tempered, but opportunity knocks for those asked to step into the breach. Unearthing a hidden gem or two could yet turn short-term pain into long-term gain.
One thing is certain – the 2023 Six Nations just got a whole lot more interesting before a ball has even been kicked. Buckle up for a wild ride as Europe’s finest collide in the throes of winter. England’s “Red Rose” may be wilting, but only the foolish would write them off entirely. Hold onto your hats, this could get messy.
