Van Graan thumper gets England call-up

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England boss Steve Borthwick has called up an uncapped player from Johann van Graan’s Bath to replace the injured Ollie Lawrence ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Wales.

Lawrence suffered a season-threatening Achilles injury in Sunday’s victory over Italy at Twickenham and was driven off the pitch on a medical cart, and Bath teammate Max Ojomoh fills the hole created in Borthwick’s 35-man squad preparing for the climax of the tournament in Cardiff.

The 100kg, 24-year-old midfielder is the son of Nigerian-born former England loose forward Steve Ojomoh who played 12 Tests between 1994 and 1998, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa.

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England moved Elliot Daly from fullback to outside centre to plug the gap against Italy and the versatile Saracens player is an option to start alongside Fraser Dingwall against Wales.

Henry Slade was dropped for the Italy clash and could be restored to the midfield, while rookie Oscar Beard and wing Tommy Freeman are also alternatives for the position.

England have an outside chance of clinching a first Six Nations title since 2020 but need Scotland to beat favourites France in Paris.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

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