Six Nations: Back injury ends Mathew Tait's hopes of Stuart Lancaster audition for England
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It would be factually incorrect to suggest that Mathew Tait is “always injured”, but there are undeniably times when it seems that way. Like now. Stuart Lancaster and his fellow England coaches were relishing the prospect of watching the Leicester full-back play for the second-string Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds at Gloucester this weekend and Tait knew that a strong performance would do his chances of a welcome red-rose recall no harm at all. Sadly, there will be no performance of any description. The poor man is crocked again.
Tait failed to go the distance for the Tigers during their intense Heineken Cup contest with Ulster at the weekend and his latest orthopaedic problem – something to do with his back, it is thought – is sufficiently serious to rule him out of representative rugby in the short term. After he overcame an interminable groin injury, only to see a spectacular return to form interrupted by an ankle issue that proved far more stubborn than expected, this latest setback is just about as much as flesh and blood can stand.
Frustratingly, all three of Tait’s club colleagues in the Saxons squad – the wing Miles Benjamin, the lock Graham Kitchener and the flanker Jamie Gibson – pulled out in sympathy yesterday. There was significant movement on the reinforcements front, though. Elliott Stooke, the young Gloucester second-rower who has been magnificent in adversity this season, now finds himself in the frame, as do the Sale full-back Rob Miller, the Quins midfielder Matt Hopper and the Northampton tight-head specialist Tom Mercey.
Ryan Jones has ben forced out of Wales’ squad for the Six Nations with the hamstring injury he sustained playing for Ospreys against Leinster on Friday. The back-row forward has been replaced by Ospreys team-mate James King.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments