England: Steve Borthwick provides Ollie Lawrence update following horror injury against Italy
Ollie Lawrence being stretchered off the pitch against Italy in the Six Nations
England head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed centre Ollie Lawrence suffered a “tough” Achilles injury in his side’s 47-24 win over Italy on Sunday.
The Bath centre was stretchered off the pitch early into the first-half after a freak injury.
Borthwick confirms Lawrence Achilles injury
Lawrence had only just cemented himself into the 13 shirt this Six Nations, after spending most of Borthwick’s tenure in the number 12 jumper, but it seems he is now set for an extended period on the sidelines through injury.
“Yeah, it’s an Achilles injury,” Borthwick told members of the media after the win. “We’ll know more in the next 48 hours when he has the scans and he sees a specialist.”
He added: “Fingers crossed it’s not quite as severe as we fear it might be. He’ll get the very, very best care, he’ll see the very, very best people, to be looked after.”
When pressed for a potential timeline and whether it was a season-ending injury, the England boss said Lawrence is in for a “real tough injury”.
“It looks like it could be a real tough injury,” he said. “But, I am hesitant to say exactly without any detailed assessment of it in terms of the scans.
“It looks like it is a tough injury for him”
Potential replacements?
While Lawrence has been Borthwick’s go-to man in the 13 shirt this Six Nations, there are still plenty of players who could slot in for their finale against Wales next weekend.
Elliot Daly spent the majority of the Italy Test in midfield alongside Fraser Dingwall – who is also another option – and Tommy Freeman could get the nod there too after some strong showings for Northampton with 13 on his back.
“I would have no doubt about either of those guys playing in the centre,” Borthwick said when pressed about the possibility of these two taking the shirt.
Elsewhere, Henry Slade is also an option to return to the starting XV after his omission for the 47-24 win, and Oscar Beard could also come in.
When quizzed on the possibility of starting Harlequins ace Beard, who is yet to make his senior debut for England but has featured for England A, Borthwick was full of praise for the 23-year-old.
“He has trained really well when he has been with the squad and his ball carrying is real point of difference,” he said.
Outside of Borthwick’s current 35-man squad, Max Ojomoh, Will Butt and Lennox Anyanwu are also possible replacements for the Bath centre.
