Eddie Jones could be set to unleash a monstrous back row on Ireland in Dublin in two weeks’ time, giving England a significant weight advantage in the pack against the tournament favourites.
The England boss may be forced into picking both his ball-carrying bludgeons, Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes, in the same team as injuries stack up once again, with November’s star man and Bath Rugby talisman Sam Underhill one of the growing sidelined contingent.
England’s back row woes
INJURED
Sam Underhill
Chris Robshaw
DOUBTS
Brad Shields
Mark Wilson
FIT
Billy Vunipola
Nathan Hughes
Tom Curry
Jack Clifford
England take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, February 2 in the first round of the Six Nations, before returning to Twickenham to face France the following week.