Steve Borthwick suffers blow ahead of England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in France, as starting scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet ruled out of tournament with ankle injury; World Cup runs from September 8 to October 28; England’s opening game vs Argentina in Marseille on September 9
Last Updated: 14/08/23 5:00pm
Jack van Poortvliet will miss the Rugby World Cup after injuring his ankle in the warm-up win over Wales
England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet will miss the whole of the Rugby World Cup after injuring his ankle during Saturday’s warm-up win over Wales.
The Leicester Tigers player accidentally collided with team-mate Ollie Lawrence and had to be helped from the field during the 19-17 victory at Twickenham, and the RFU has now confirmed he will require surgery.
Northampton’s Alex Mitchell has replaced Van Poortvliet in England’s 33-player squad, joining Danny Care and Ben Youngs as options at No 9 for next month’s tournament in France.
“It’s really bad luck for Jack, and we send him our very best wishes for a swift and successful recovery,” England head coach Steve Borthwick said on Monday.
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Van Poortvliet, 22, had established himself as England’s first-choice scrum-half, starting all five Six Nations Tests earlier this year, so his absence gives Borthwick a dilemma ahead of the World Cup.
Owen Farrell will appear before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after his red card for a high tackle
England are also sweating on the involvement of captain and fly-half Owen Farrell with the 31-year-old in danger of missing the start of the World Cup after he was sent off for a high tackle on Wales’ Taine Basham.
Farrell will appear before a video disciplinary hearing on Tuesday to learn the length of his ban, with a mid-range punishment for a dangerous tackle six matches.
Farrell was punished for the same offence in January, with an initial four-week suspension reduced to three.
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England’s Joe Marchant said after captain Farrell’s sending off against Wales, the squad will be looking to lower their tackle height throughout the World Cup
England begin their campaign agains
…. to be continued
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