The 2017 Autumn Internationals 'absent XV': Billy Vunipola, France's best player and the Lions captain

The 2017 Autumn Internationals ‘absent XV’: Billy Vunipola, France’s best player and the Lions captain

Lock: Brodie Retallick – New Zealand

The world-class lock will not be on their European tour due to personal reasons.
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Lock: Richie Gray – Scotland

The giant lock missed the Scots summer tour and will now miss the entire Autumn Internationals after undergoing back surgery in August.
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Flanker: Ross Moriarty – Wales

Ross Moriarty has suffered a fresh back injury in training with Gloucester earlier this week. The 23-year-old has played once, on 4 November against Leicester, since injury forced him out of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in July. He’ll now miss the entire Autumn Internationals.
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Flanker: Sam Warburton – Wales

The Lions skipper has not played since July when he led the British and Irish Lions to a drawn series against New Zealand, and had neck surgery in September. The 29-year-old says he does not yet have a return-to-play date.
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Number 8: Billy Vunipola – England

England and Saracens were left with a gaping hole to fill after confirmation that Billy Vunipola will be out for four months following knee surgery in September. The No8 had an operation to repair the meniscus on his right knee and now faces a race to be fit for the start of the Six Nations in February.