England’s Mako Vunipola and Wales’ Hallam Amos will miss the Six Nations clash between the two sides at Twickenham on Saturday through injury.
Vunipola has been ruled out with an unspecified ‘medical issue’, according to forwards coach Matt Proudfoot.
The loosehead prop had only recently returned to the England set-up as he was named in a 34-man training squad following his recent trip to Tonga for personal reasons.
However, Proudfoot said on Tuesday that Vunipola will sit out this weekend’s match against the reigning Grand Slam champions, with Joe Marler and Ellis Genge competing to start instead.
‘Mako is not with us now,’ Proudfoot said. ‘He has got a medical issue, so he won’t be available for the weekend. It is just something medical, so he is out for the weekend.
‘We will take it week by week,’ Proudfoot added on the 29-year-old.
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Meanwhile, Wales have also suffered a blow ahead of the match after receiving news that Amos will be unable to play for the rest of the season.
The 25-year-old wing will miss the rest of the Six Nations with a knee injury that could have him on the sidelines for the next few months. He suffered the injury while playing for the Cardiff Blues in the PRO14 last weekend.
‘He will have surgery and it is expected that he will also miss the remainder of the season,’ the Wales Rugby Union said in a statement.
Wales also have concerns over midfielder George North, who is undergoing concussion protocols, while flyhalf Dan Biggar is a doubt after taking a blow to the knee in action for the Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
Biggar’s absence could be vital in the match, with Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell and Owen Williams all out. The remaining Test flyhalf, Jarrod Evans, has six caps but has yet to start a game for Wales.
Both coaches will name their teams for the clash on Thursday.
Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
