Lancaster given injury worries
England coach Stuart Lancaster has been handed a number of injury concerns ahead of the Six Nations following a bruising weekend of European action.
Lancaster's squad is due to gather in Leeds tonight for a training camp ahead of their opener with Scotland at Twickenham on February 2 but there may be a few absentees who were casualties of the final round of pool action in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Exeter Chiefs flanker Tom Johnson looks set for the longest lay-off after being stretchered from the field during his side's Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster on Saturday. Northampton flanker Calum Clark is another major injury worry just two weeks after being called into the England squad. Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns, who made his debut in England's victory over New Zealand last month, picked up a knee injury in his side's Challenge Cup victory over French side Mont-de-Marsan at Kingsholm
Worcester flanker Matt Kvesic, Saracens lock Mouritz Botha and Harlequins winger Ugo Monye have all been called up into the training squad from the Saxons as a result. London Irish's Jamie Gibson replaces Kvesic in the Saxons squad for their games against Ireland Wolfhounds in Galway on Friday, January 25 and Scotland A at Kingston Park, Newcastle seven days later.
Also included are Harlequins' Rob Buchanan, Gloucester Rugby's Nick Wood, Saracens' George Kruis, Leicester Tigers' prop Kieran Brookes for the injured David Paice, Nathan Catt, Tom Palmer and Henry Thomas, while Jordan Crane replaces Billy Vunipola who is training with the Senior squad.
