England's Injury Crisis Will Cost Them the Six Nations
With news of yet another injury to a key player—this time Owen Farrell—England's chances of winning the RBS Six Nations Championship grows ever smaller.
BBC Sport reports Farrell will be sidelined for the entire tournament through injury. The fly-half suffered a knee injury in Saracens' European Champions Cup defeat to Clermont Auvergne on Sunday.
Farrell joins a long list of English casualties:
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| Owen Farrell | Knee | Out for Six Nations |
| Manu Tuilagi | Groin | Could return mid-tournament |
| Ben Foden | Knee | Out for Six Nations |
| Brad Barritt | Knee | Being assessed |
| Dan Cole | Ankle | Could return for Italy game |
| Kyle Eastmond | Shoulder | Being assessed |
| Joe Launchbury | Neck | Out for Six Nations |
| Courtney Lawes | Ankle | Could return mid-tournament |
| Geoff Parling | Knee | Could return mid-tournament |
| Ed Slater | Knee | Out for Six Nations |
| Tom Wood | Ankle | Being assessed |
| Ben Morgan | Leg | Out for Six Nations |
Ben Morgan's recent tweet neatly sums up the extent of involvement a number of these players will have at the Six Nations:
Understandably, the injuries will be a huge source of concern for Stuart Lancaster, who will be hoping to use a successful tournament as a springboard for the World Cup later this year, particularly as several of the players will have been crucial to his plans.
Farrell will be a big miss for England. The 23-year-old is a key attacking player and has scored 290 points for England in his 29 caps, including two tries.
Manu Tuilagi is also one of England's most devastating losses. The powerhouse outside-centre is one of England's strongest and quickest players, and without his rampaging runs and dynamic back play, the side lose that all-important fear factor.
Lancaster faces a particular headache at lock, with Ed Slater and Joe Launchbury ruled out of the tournament. Launchbury is a regular starter for England and a pivotal player for club and country, adding strength and power to the scrum.
Courtney Lawes could return during the tournament, and he will be needed. The world-class talent is as committed to the cause as any and was one of the few standout players in the autumn internationals.
Even the players who will hopefully return midway through the Six Nations may not be able to save England, though.
Lancaster's men kick off their campaign with a tough away trip to Cardiff on 6 February. When England last met Wales at the Millennium Stadium in the Six Nations, they received a 30-3 drubbing. With so many injuries to key players, Wales will be eager for a repeat result and look to capitalise on England's misfortune.
England's home match against Italy on Valentine's Day shouldn't be a problem even with injuries, but then they face their toughest test of all. Away to Ireland, a full-strength England would have had a tough match. In such a threadbare state, a win at the Aviva Stadium now seems like a pipe dream.
Even if the likes of Lawes can return in time for the Ireland game, the damage may have already been done against Wales. Regardless, any returning players aren't exactly going to be in peak condition.
Worryingly, England's reserve players are lacking experience, and their ability to come in and perform at the level of those missing is a big question mark.
Farrell's replacement George Ford shows a lot of promise, but the youngster is inexperienced. The Six Nations will be a huge test for him, and he'll be thrown in at the deep end.
Alternatives to Ford lie in Danny Cipriani and Stephen Myler.
Cipriani, who hasn't started a Six Nations game in seven years, has never been able to consistently show the talent he so clearly possesses. If he plays to his best, then Farrell's absence won't be missed, but that is a big if.
Myler, on the other hand, has been a dependable if slightly safe option for Northampton Saints. The 30-year-old is in good club form, but has just one cap to his name. When it comes to international rugby, Myler is an unknown quantity and whether he can make the step up remains to be seen.
George Kruis and Graham Kitchener could be added to the second-row as replacements for Lawes, Launchbury and Co.
Kitchener is uncapped, while Kruis only made his debut in the autumn as a replacement. As is the case with a number of the players due to come in, both are untested at this level. Kruis' 122 minutes of international rugby is hardly a convincing preparation for the rigours of the Six Nations.
Centre options to replace Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond include Billy Twelvetrees—who was disappointingly ineffective in the autumn—Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph. Twelvetrees, Burrell have three tries apiece, while Joseph has none.
Of those centres, Burrell is the one who's played the best for England, but to put it in perspective, Tuilagi has 11 tries for his country. His qualities simply can't be replaced.
Ultimately, the lack of established internationals remaining for Lancaster's selection will cost them the Six Nations.
It's entirely possible that one or two could come in, realise their potential and make the step up. But the chances of them all doing that is incredibly slim.
Second place is achievable depending on how Wales perform, but that will be of little comfort to Lancaster and England.
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