England may find themselves deprived of as much as a third of their most formidable lineup as the Rugby World Cup commences in a mere two weeks.
The absence of Captain Owen Farrell and No8 Billy Vunipola in the initial match against France, owing to suspensions, could result in England being devoid of five key members from their preferred starting fifteen.
Adding to the challenge is the prior unfortunate sidelining of scrum-half Jack Van Poortvliet due to injury, further dimming the overall prospects for England.
Refer to the complete injury list for the England team below.
#1. Anthony Watson (Calf)
Anthony Watson was ruled out of the entire tournament yesterday with a calf injury, with the luckless wing likely to be replaced by Jonny May in England’s 33-man squad.
#2. Elliot Daly (Knee)
England’s belief in Daly’s readiness to commence the World Cup as a starter remains strong; however, concerns have arisen about his ability to secure a spot in the lineup for the pivotal opening match. In response to this uncertainty, Joe Cokanasiga has been included in the squad as a potential alternative for the versatile playmaker role.