Coming into Thursday afternoon’s press conference, there was certainly a mixture of both good and bad news for England fans.
Richard Cockerill was speaking from the England training camp taking place this week in Bristol, the forwards coach offered a suggestion as to which players could be available next week ahead of Ireland’s trip to Twickenham Stadium in the fourth round of Guinness Six Nations action.
Revealing that Jonny Hill had trained on both Wednesday and Thursday, the press conference began with the knowledge that starting hooker, Luke Cowan-Dickie would be missing the rest of the tournament, and potentially the season, after coming off in the first-half against in the 23-19 win over Wales.
Talking to press as part of his weekly media commitments earlier on Thursday, ahead of Exeter Chiefs’ clash with Sale Sharks on Sunday afternoon, it was Rob Baxter who let it be known that the 28-year-old would be spending a significant spell on the side lines.
“It’s a pretty significant injury,” Rob Baxter said, earlier in the day. “It’s an operative injury on a knee ligament and a bit of cartilage damage.
“He’s definitely going to be out for a significant period of time, possibly the rest of the season.”
The Cornishman’s loss will possibly be felt more so in the long run by his club side, the two-time Premiership champions currently fourth in the league table, their place in the playoffs by no means a given.
For England, they have the vastly experienced Jamie George to turn to, the Saracens stalwart having spent won 64 caps to date.
Having been initially left out in the cold by England Head Coach, Eddie Jones, back in the Autumn Nations Cup, Cockerill says the 31-year-old is an extremely important part of the England machine moving forward.
“I think his role is vital for us,” he said. “He obviously not only brings his playing ability, but his leadership ability as a very experienced player.
“He has worked hard away from England to get himself back in the squad, so he is going to be vital for us, that extra experience that he brings is huge.
“We have got some less experienced hookers in, behind him, so his leadership both on and off the field, preparing for games, as well as obviously in games, is going to be vital for what we do the rest of the campaign.”
With what will no doubt be a testing encounter against Ireland next weekend, a win will send England into a final round encounter with France – who play Wales next – for a potentially decisive 80 minutes.
“When you are in big games, you have got to get some real pressure on your game, experience is the thing that holds it together, and Jamie will bring that in bucketloads,” Cockerill said.
“He has trained really well, he is working really had, he is good in the group, and when he has played, he has played really well.”
Ireland and Andy Farrell have their own injury concerns coming into the game, with Andrew Porter ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations with an ankle injury, with Cian Healy and Dave Kilcoyne the men to take the loosehead jersey in the Leinsterman’s stead.
Tom Curry is also a concern for England, the Sale Sharks back-row currently going through his graduated return to play protocols. Numerous players are not involved in the training camp, with the likes of Joe Marler, Joe Heyes, George Ford, Ollie Chessum and Elliot Daly returning to their clubs for some game time this weekend in the Premiership.
There's plenty to like about Will Goodrick-Clarke...
In order to make up the numbers at Clifton College, London Irish’s Will Goodrick-Clarke and Gloucester captain, Lewis Ludlow, have been training with the national side in the aim of being included again next week for the Ireland Test.
“Eddie sees it individual by individual and if guys need game time, and it suits what they need and what we need, then guys have been released to play,” Cockerill said.
“I think it keeps the clubs happy because they get their players and Eddie releases them because it would be good for them to get some game time under their belt.
“I think keeping guys sharp and match fit is really important, and like I said, Eddie has discussions with those individual players, and if he feels it is better for them to go back to their clubs and play, it is good for everybody.”
