England hope Brad Barritt and Geoff Parling will be fit for Six Nations
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Version 0 of 1. England are hoping that Brad Barritt and Geoff Parling will be fit to play a part in the Six Nations Championship but have stopped short of declaring them fit for the Wales opener on Friday 6 February. The Rugby Football Union said in a statement: “Brad Barritt (Saracens) and Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers) continue to be treated for knee medial ligament strains and will not train today. “Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby) and Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) will also not train today and both will undergo further specialist assessments later in the week.” The England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “Brad and Geoff are making encouraging progress and should be available, selection permitting, to play a significant part in the Six Nations. We’ll know more on Kyle and Tom later in the week when they have had further assessments.” Owen Farrell was ruled out of the tournament on Tuesday after suffering knee damage during Saracens’ 18‑6 defeat at Clermont at the weekend. George Ford is favourite to start against the Welsh but Farrell’s injury could see the recalled Danny Cipriani appearing on the replacements’ bench, although the Sale playmaker is in competition with Stephen Myler for the berth. England go into the Six Nations already lacking Manu Tuilagi, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Ben Morgan, Ben Foden and Ed Slater. |