A few days after the announcement of young Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s withdrawal from the Six Nations tournament, another blow has struck the England Rugby team. Sam Underhill, who injured his ankle on January 5, will undergo surgery, making his participation in the tournament impossible.
A More Serious Injury Than Expected
Bath Rugby’s head coach, Johann van Graan, had initially been optimistic about Sam Underhill’s recovery after his ankle injury during the match against Northampton Saints last Sunday. The English flanker hurt himself in the action leading up to Max Ojomoh’s try in the second half but managed to finish the match at Franklin’s Gardens. However, doubts remained about his participation in Bath’s next game against Clermont Auvergne in the third round of the Investec Champions Cup (which the English side won 40-21). With the 2025 Six Nations kicking off in less than a month, English supporters were hoping their tough flanker would be fit to represent the national team. After the match, Johann van Graan explained in the press conference that Underhill’s ankle remained a concern, even though the injury didn’t initially seem severe. In the end, it turned out to be more serious than expected.
Another Setback for Steve Borthwick
The ankle injury suffered during a Premiership match against Northampton Saints will now require the 28-year-old flanker to undergo surgery, effectively ending his chances of returning before the competition’s conclusion. This complicates Steve Borthwick’s plans as the tournament is just weeks away, with the opening match against Ireland in Dublin on February 1st. Underhill, a defensive pillar for England with his power in the rucks, ability to win turnovers, and crucial tackles, will be a massive loss for the team. Additionally, he is known for his strong performances in high-stakes games, having been named Man of the Match in the 2023 World Cup’s third-place playoff against Argentina (which England won 26-23). His presence against a team like Ireland, under Andy Farrell, would certainly have been valuable.
Already weakened by the absence of other key players, like Feyi-Waboso, England will now need to rely on options like Ben Earl or Tom Curry to fill the gap. However, the impact, experience, and leadership that Underhill brings will be hard to replace, adding a layer of uncertainty to England’s campaign in this edition of the Six Nations.
On a positive note, if there’s any silver lining in this situation, Underhill’s absence could increase the chances of Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old who is considered the future of English rugby and plays in the same back row position, getting more minutes or even starting matches.
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