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England are hoping to welcome back the cavalry for next week’s Calcutta Cup with Steve Borthwick revealing Ollie Lawrence could make his comeback against Scotland at Murrayfield. The head coach said Fin Smith will be available while Tom Roebuck is also in contention to return then after the Sale winger was deemed not quite ready to face Wales on Saturday.
Lawrence’s return from a knee injury bolsters England’s options at centre. Tommy Freeman has been deployed there against Wales, just as he was in Cardiff last year and against Australia in the autumn, but Lawrence shone alongside Fraser Dingwall in England’s statement victory over the All Blacks.
Lawrence was one of five players England were planning on taking to Girona for their warm-weather training camp before it was deemed that the loosehead prop Fin Baxter requires surgery and Ben Curry would be better served continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury with Sale. “Ollie Lawrence is gradually increasing the load of where he needs to be and he’s looking good, maybe a chance next week, but it’s going to be tight,” said Borthwick.
Roebuck was only “a few days away” when Borthwick named his team to face Wales on Monday. Smith has been blighted by a calf injury, but he made a return to full training on Monday and comes into the mix for Scotland, as does his Northampton team-mate George Furbank, who has successfully reintegrated back into the squad after numerous injuries including a broken arm and persistent calf problem.
“It’s a while since we’ve seen him in camp,” said Borthwick. “You can see what a class player he is and what he’s brought on to the training field. Some of the touches he has brought into the training games have been terrific.
“It’s great that another player who adds versatility is coming into the selection mix, who has the ability to play 15, 10 and on the wing. I’m really pleased to see George Furbank back.”
Baxter has been ruled out of the Six Nations as a result of his surgery, leaving England light at loosehead prop. Ellis Genge starts against Wales while Bevan Rodd, who has 10 caps, is on the bench. The uncapped Emmanuel Iyogun is the other loosehead prop in the training squad. Curry could yet feature in the later part of the tournament after taking advice from a specialist to undergo further treatment.
