Courtney Lawes: England lock to miss rest of Six Nations with injury suffered in training

England will be without Courtney Lawes for the remainder of the Six Nations due to a pectoral injury.

England confirmed on Thursday that Lawes is out of Saturday’s match against Wales, but attack coach Simon Amor said on Friday that the injury was more serious.

There is no further detail or a time frame on his return, and England will announce a replacement in their squad next week.

Amor described the news as “very disappointing”, with England already missing Sam Underhill, Jack Willis, Joe Launchbury and George Kruis – who is in Japan – in the positions Lawes plays.

“He’s an experienced player,” said Amor. “He brings a lineout threat and a great defensive energy. Of course that’s a strength but we have some really fantastic players, particularly Mark Wilson, who’s one of our real work-rate players, who can get around the field and provide that energy, particularly around the breakdown.”

Covering Wilson, Jones has already picked George Martin, 19, on the bench, and he is set to become the first man born this century to play for England.

Amor described the fixture against Wales as a “make or break” game in the middle of the tournament. After a stuttering start to the campaign, Amor feels England are ready to take a stride forward in his department - attack.

“We probably [tried to be] a bit too complicated initially,” he said. “We didn’t quite get the right simplicity and the right message there. So that’s certainly improved in the Italy game and we worked hard on that understanding over the last week. The boys have stepped up so well.

“We really want to go at this Welsh team. They will bring their intensity, they are a very experienced side, got some very combative players, we are well aware of that. And it’s really about us taking the game to them.”

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