Problems for England as Robshaw misses out

The 30-year-old flanker went in for surgery on his left shoulder yesterday, with Harlequins expecting him to be sidelined for three months.

England must already do without talisman No 8 Billy Vunipola for at least the Six Nations’ early rounds, while captain Dylan Hartley will be short of match-sharpness after his six-week suspension.

Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola and James Haskell are all further injury doubts, though locks George Kruis and Joe Launchbury hope to be ready for England’s Six Nations opener against France at Twickenham on Saturday, February 4.

Robshaw forged himself a new lease of Test-match life as England romped to a perfect 13 wins in 2016 under new head coach Jones.

The 55-cap flanker relinquished the captaincy after England’s failure at the 2015 World Cup, but has fought his way firmly into taskmaster coach Jones’s starting line-up.

Robshaw suffered his shoulder injury in Harlequins’ 24-17 Premiership loss at Worcester on New Year’s Day, attempting to play through the pain before eventually being forced off.

Jones will be forced into a major back-row reshuffle, and might also be without Wasps flanker Haskell.

Haskell lasted just 35 seconds of his comeback after toe surgery in Wasps’ 22-16 victory over Leicester on Sunday, suffering a concussion on tackling Freddie Burns.

Wasps chief Dai Young insisted Haskell was “totally fine” after the Ricoh Arena match, but the luckless 31-year-old must now undergo concussion testing before being cleared for a return to action.

Jones could well deploy Saracens star Maro Itoje at blindside flanker to offset Robshaw’s loss, while fit-again Leicester flanker Mike Williams is another back-row option.

Harlequins prop Marler has been struggling with a calf problem, while Mako Vunipola is still recovering from a knee issue.

Saracens lock George Kruis has a minor cheekbone fracture, but has already targeted a return to action in the European Champions Cup game with Toulon on January 21.

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury is carrying a calf issue but that is understood to be far less problematic than first feared.

Captain Hartley will be available against France, but will only just have served his six-week ban for striking Leinster’s Sean O’Brien. Jones must decide whether the hooker will be match-hardened enough.