Rugby World Cup 2019: Billy Vunipola to learn injury fate on Tuesday after undergoing scan on ankle
Billy Vunipola will learn his injury fate on Tuesday after undergoing a scan on his ankle injury, with England unsure how long they will be without the powerful No 8 for.
The back-row forward was forced off at half-time of England’s 39-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday after twisting his ankle, and although the England camp are not too concerned on the issue, they will not know a final verdict until his scan results return on Tuesday.
“He has had a scan and that is ongoing, and we will have a clearer picture tomorrow,” said assistant coach Neal Hatley on Monday. “He is being assessed and that will go on throughout the day and we will see how he pulls up.
“We assessed him after the game, gave him 24 hours to see where that gets him so he has another 24 hours and then we will make a firm diagnosis and he is walking around with a smile on his face. We will know a lot more on Tuesday and he did have a scan as a precaution.”
Hatley also played down any fears over Joe Marler after the loosehead prop limped off in the 63rd minute of Saturday’s victory, though he did confirm that he will have a check-up on a back issue on Tuesday before returning to full contact training.
Beyond those two issues, England appear to have a full complement to select from, although it looks certain that Billy Vunipola will not be risked in the weekend’s Pool C showdown with France regardless of what the verdict is on his injury.
It means that England lose one of their prime ball carriers, requiring a number of the pack to take on an extra responsibility with the ball in hand.
“We plan for all eventualities and with what we have got with Ellis Genge, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and Kyle Sinckler people pick up the slack when Mako and Billy don’t play,” Hatley added. “We have played a lot of rugby without them. Billy is an important figure for us, but other people pick up the slack.”
That resonates within the rest of the pack, with hooker Jamie George fully aware that they will need to make up for Vunipola’s absence.
“Eddie made us aware of it when Billy came off at half-time,” he said. “He said there will potentially be a little more responsibility for the other guys to step up and want the ball now, but you work towards the ball all the time anyway.
“If he does or he doesn't play then we're all aware that we need to get our hands on the ball and impose ourselves physically.”
Jones sent on flanker Lewis Ludlam to fill the void left by Vunipola and moved Tom Curry to No 8, doing himself no disservice in the process that looks set to see him replace the absent Saracens forward and Mark Wilson return to the squad.
