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RBS NATIONS: England coach waiting on three suspect players

England's Jamie Noon, left, and Jonny Wilkinson train in London on Monday. PHOTO: EPA

England are sweating on the fitness of three players ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales on Feb. 2.

Lock Simon Shaw, winger Paul Sackey and scrumhalf Peter Richards were all casualties of last weekend's European Cup action.

Shaw was carried off during Wasps defeat by Munster with an ankle injury, while illness forced Sackey to pull out before kick-off.

Sackey, who was kept away from the England squad as they trained at Twickenham on Monday, has a suspected case of mumps and is being monitored by Wasps and the local health experts to confirm the diagnosis through saliva tests.

His club were expecting the results of the tests yesterday. Shaw underwent an MRI scan on his injured joint on Monday. The RFU said his progress will be monitored by their medical staff and those at Wasps but they are unable to say how long he will be out for.

Richards sustained a biceps tendon injury in London Irish's win over Treviso on Saturday. He has had a scan and is awaiting further details on his recovery.

If Sackey does miss England's first match it could pave the way for an England debut for Lesley Vainikolo, the Tongan-born former New Zealand rugby league international, who joined Gloucester at the start of the season.

A mixture of injury and family bereavements in New Zealand have seen Vainikolo restricted to 10 appearances this season.

He returned from New Zealand last week, after the death of his father, in time to play in Gloucester's European win over Ulster on Sunday.

And his club mate Mike Tindall, a World Cup winner in 2003, claims the big winger will not be hindered by his lack of experience in the 15-man code.

Tindall said: "He is unique. People say he is like Jonan Lomu but he is different in terms of what he brings. He works really hard for the team, he can run through brick walls for you, has got good foot work, knows where the touchlines are and knows where the try line is."

"He also knows how to draw five people and can attract defenders and still keep the ball alive. That is a great asset if you are trying to move the ball.

"He has been through a difficult Christmas but he was straight back on the phone on Wednesday saying he wanted to play. Once he commits to something he gives it everything," Tindall said.

Coach Brian Ashton has a headache if Shaw is not available. The second row was one of the success stories at the World Cup and if he is ruled out Ashton could call on Steve Borthwick or Nick Kennedy of London Irish.
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