England’s Six Nations preparations take another hit after forward banned
England prop Mako Vunipola in action for Saracens in the Premiership.
Mako Vunipola has received a four-week ban following an incident at the weekend in another blow to England’s Six Nations preparations.
The prop was sent off late on in Saracens’ victory over Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership on Saturday for a dangerous tackle on Bryan Byrne.
Vunipola will therefore miss Sarries’ next four games, which includes two Premiership clashes and a couple of Champions Cup matches.
Although it will not stretch into the Six Nations, it does not help head coach Steve Borthwick’s plans ahead of the tournament.
Ineligible for coaching course
“The player admitted that foul play took place, but not that it met the red card threshold,” a Rugby Football Union statement read.
“The panel upheld the charge and Vunipola received a four-match ban.
“He is ineligible to take part in World Rugby’s coaching intervention programme, having completed it in 2022.”
As a result of the suspension, the prop will not have any more game time ahead of England’s Six Nations campaign which starts in February.
That would ordinarily count against the 32-year-old in Borthwick’s thinking, who omitted him from the recent Rugby World Cup.
However, the Red Rose are currently struggling in the front-row with all three of Borthwick’s World Cup looseheads on the sidelines.
Prognosis
Bevan Rodd will definitely miss the Six Nations while there are concerns over Joe Marler and Ellis Genge, who are nursing injuries.
Genge is struggling with a hamstring problem and is in a race to be fit for the start of the tournament, while Marler picked up an arm issue in Harlequins’ victory over Gloucester.
Quins director of rugby Billy Millard has admitted that they are still awaiting the outcome of that scan, although the Daily Mail are reporting that the injury is not thought to be serious.
However, should both of those players be out for any significant length of time then Vunipola could become an important player for England during the Six Nations.
They are lacking experience, with three-times capped Beno Obano the next in line after Genge, Marler and Rodd.
Below them, Borthwick might be looking towards the incredibly callow Fin Baxter, Tarek Haffar and Phil Brantingham, who are all highly regarded but are still learning their trade at club level.