Nathan Hughes and Tom Wood face fitness tests head of England’s Six Nations clash with Wales

Tom Wood of England leaves with his arm in a sling after the Six Nations match between England and France
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Chris Jones8 February 2017

England are facing a back-row crisis with Nathan Hughes and Tom Wood having to pass fitness tests tomorrow to have any chance of playing Wales in their Six Nations clash in Cardiff.

Wood has a shoulder injury with Hughes troubled by a knee problem and both players are being restricted to what defence coach Paul Gustard has called “modified training”. Gustard is still hopeful Wood and Hughes could play on Saturday and said: “Tom and Nathan are doing modified training and are up for selection.

“We have options for the weekend and whatever back row we pick will be competitive.

“Tom has a lot of caps and we will make a final call on both of them and they will train tomorrow.”

Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford has won eight caps and could be part of a very inexperienced England back row to face a Welsh trio of Lions made up of Sam Warburton (70 caps), Toby Faletau (62) and Justin Tipuric (47).

Clifford has made just one start for England and any hopes of pressing for more appearances in the autumn Tests were ruined by an ankle injury suffered in September which kept him out for 10 weeks.

He was hoping to make the match squad for the Six Nations opener with France but had not recovered sufficiently from a chest injury. The 23-year-old played in both wins over Wales last season, scoring a long-range try in the May fixture at Twickenham to highlight his pace which could be used to counter Tipuric.

Hughes, if he recovers, and Maro Itoje are contenders to fill the back-row but have only three starts in those roles between them.

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