It's crunch time for England as they bite their nails over the fitness of their Lions stars, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum, with a mammoth clash against New Zealand looming this Saturday at Twickenham. Both stalwarts are on the injury bench after a rough ride against Fiji last weekend, and their absence from Monday's practice session has set alarm bells ringing louder than Big Ben at noon.
Tommy Freeman, a linchpin in England’s impressive nine-game victory parade, pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 67th minute last Saturday. His early exit made room for Henry Arundell to hop on and score, adding a silver lining to Freeman's cloud. Meanwhile, Ollie Chessum was seen hobbling around on crutches after a foot mishap, making the training grounds look more like a scene from 'ER' than a rugby pitch.
With both Freeman and Chessum potentially sidelined, head coach Steve Borthwick is possibly scrambling more than a chef at breakfast. Borthwick hinted at the dilemma, stating,
"It's a bit of a jigsaw at the moment, but we're piecing it together day by day."
If Freeman can't suit up, Tom Roebuck is likely to jump back into the fray post-ankle recovery, with Arundell ready to dazzle from the bench once again.
In the engine room, if Chessum can't lace up, expect Maro Itoje and Alex Coles to form a second-row partnership, while Chandler Cunningham-South might just get the nod to beef up the bench. The team announcement, typically set for Tuesday, is now as unpredictable as a British summer, potentially moving to Thursday due to these injury puzzles.
As they gear up to face the All Blacks, Borthwick’s brigade is eyeing a tenth straight win, aiming to turn their winning streak into a perfect ten. It's set to be the crown jewel of their November fixtures, and with the fitness cloud hanging over, the suspense is almost as thrilling as the game itself.
So, as Saturday approaches, will it be a case of 'next man up' for England, or will Freeman and Chessum miraculously recover in time to face the haka? Twickenham awaits the drama, and so does the world.
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It's crunch time for England as they bite their nails over the fitness of their Lions stars, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum, with a mammoth clash against New Zealand looming this Saturday at Twickenham. Both stalwarts are on the injury bench after a rough ride against Fiji last weekend, and their absence from Monday's practice session has set alarm bells ringing louder than Big Ben at noon.
Tommy Freeman, a linchpin in England’s impressive nine-game victory parade, pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 67th minute last Saturday. His early exit made room for Henry Arundell to hop on and score, adding a silver lining to Freeman's cloud. Meanwhile, Ollie Chessum was seen hobbling around on crutches after a foot mishap, making the training grounds look more like a scene from 'ER' than a rugby pitch.
With both Freeman and Chessum potentially sidelined, head coach Steve Borthwick is possibly scrambling more than a chef at breakfast. Borthwick hinted at the dilemma, stating,
"It's a bit of a jigsaw at the moment, but we're piecing it together day by day."
If Freeman can't suit up, Tom Roebuck is likely to jump back into the fray post-ankle recovery, with Arundell ready to dazzle from the bench once again.In the engine room, if Chessum can't lace up, expect Maro Itoje and Alex Coles to form a second-row partnership, while Chandler Cunningham-South might just get the nod to beef up the bench. The team announcement, typically set for Tuesday, is now as unpredictable as a British summer, potentially moving to Thursday due to these injury puzzles.
As they gear up to face the All Blacks, Borthwick’s brigade is eyeing a tenth straight win, aiming to turn their winning streak into a perfect ten. It's set to be the crown jewel of their November fixtures, and with the fitness cloud hanging over, the suspense is almost as thrilling as the game itself.
So, as Saturday approaches, will it be a case of 'next man up' for England, or will Freeman and Chessum miraculously recover in time to face the haka? Twickenham awaits the drama, and so does the world.