Bath to ‘make decision’ on England stars ahead of Northampton Saints showdown as further update issued on Test trio
Ben Spencer (left) is one of three injury concerns for Bath ahead of their meeting with Northampton Saints this weekend.
Bath are sweating over the fitness of England internationals Ben Spencer and Ollie Lawrence ahead of their visit to Franklin’s Gardens, while Max Ojomoh is also set to miss out.
Club captain Spencer was an 11th-hour withdrawal from the Bath starting XV last weekend after suffering a knock in the warm-up, with Tom Carr-Smith thrust into the run-on group in the process, while Lawrence suffered a hand knock.
Bath sweat over Ben Spencer and Ollie Lawrence knocks amid update on Test pair
Spencer has been a key part of the Bath squad this season, featuring 15 times for the Blue, Black and Whites in all competitions and starting in all but one of his appearances, but they could be without him yet again this weekend.
“No more news,” Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said on Spencer’s injury. “We made a decision that he wasn’t going to play (against Harlequins) as there was something in that shoulder, and we’ll make a decision whether he plays this week or next week.
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“He is obviously a very important player and our captain. He’s one of the players in the team who has played a lot of rugby, so he’s under the watchful eye of our medical team.
“He ran very well outside a bit earlier, so there are no major concerns from our side. We’ll put him back on the field in time.”
Fellow Test man Lawrence has also emerged as a doubt for Saturday’s top of the table PREM Rugby clash with Northampton Saints – a repeat of their epic Investec Champions Cup quarter-final on April 10 – after suffering a hand injury against Quins.
“Ollie’s hand is not too bad, actually,” Van Graan said of the centre. “We’ll take our time with him, but we had some big fears after the game.
“We’ll make a decision when we put him back on the field.”
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Lawrence’s injury is somewhat of a concern as well, with the powerhouse back only just returning from a knee knock which limited him to just the sole appearance in the Six Nations earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Beno Obano and Quinn Roux are also set for final calls later this week, with the pair making progress on their respective back and leg blows.
“They’re a lot better,” Van Graan said of the duo, who both missed the win over Quins as well. “Again, we’ll make decisions as the week goes.
“We’re in a time of year where if I look forward to the next few weeks, Northampton Saints away, Bordeaux away and Exeter away, three massive games coming up for us.
“After what we’ve had coming back from the Six Nations, Saracens, Sale away, Saracens again, Northampton and the aforementioned teams, it’s a big block for us. We’ll manage our players and use our squad.
“Quinn and Beno are important players for us, and we’ll make sure we put them back on the field at the right time.”
Max Ojomoh ruled out
While the aforementioned quartet could all be deemed fit later this week, England centre Ojomoh is ruled out of the trip to Franklin’s Gardens with a leg injury.
“With Max, at first it seemed like an ankle injury, but it’s actually just below the knee,” Van Graan said of the two-capped England international. “We’re still getting some more feedback on him.”
“It might be a week or it might be two weeks, but he’s not available this weekend.”
