England prop Mako Vunipola’s participation in this year’s RBS 6 Nations has been thrown into doubt, with club side Saracens putting his recovery time from injury at somewhere between four and six weeks.
The 25-year-old prop is now due to see a specialist once the swelling subsides in his knee, after he was forced off in Saracens’ Champions Cup triumph over Sale Sharks last weekend.
If the results of the scan are more serious, Vunipola could well miss England’s entire Championship defence, after Eddie Jones’ side claimed the Grand Slam in 2016.
That would be a huge blow for Jones, with Vunipola playing every game of that victorious RBS 6 Nations campaign, and the 39-cap front-rower was also crucial throughout an unbeaten 2016 for the Red Rose.
And club head coach Mark McCall admits he is feeling the pinch, even if he only misses Saracens’ festive clashes against Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers.
“Mako has got a bit of soreness in his knee which will be assessed,” McCall said after the Sale victory.
“Anybody would miss Mako Vunipola but we don’t know how long he will be out for yet.”
