England's preparations for the upcoming Six Nations tournament have been dealt a significant blow with the news that prop Fin Baxter is set for foot surgery. The procedure will sideline the forward for the initial rounds of the championship, further depleting head coach Steve Borthwick's options in the front row.
Baxter's Absence Compounds England's Prop Crisis
Fin Baxter, who has not featured on the pitch since 14 December, was scheduled to join Steve Borthwick's squad in Girona this week for their pre-tournament training camp. His absence is a considerable setback, as tighthead props Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour are already confirmed to miss the entire Six Nations due to their own injury issues. This leaves England's prop resources stretched thin at a critical juncture.
Further Squad Adjustments and Rehabilitation Updates
In addition to the prop concerns, flanker Ben Curry will also not travel to Spain for rehabilitation purposes. As cover, Jack Kenningham has been called into the England training squad. Meanwhile, several other players undergoing rehabilitation are considered touch-and-go for the opening match against Wales. These include Tom Roebuck, Fin Smith, and Ollie Lawrence.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has, however, refrained from ruling these rehabilitating players out definitively at this stage. Their fitness will be closely monitored in the lead-up to the tournament's commencement. The cumulative effect of these injuries presents a challenging start to England's Six Nations campaign, requiring strategic adjustments from the coaching staff.
