Sam Underhill: England and Bath flanker to miss Six Nations after ankle surgery

Last updated on 11 January 2019.From the section Rugby Union134

England and Bath flanker Sam Underhill is set to miss the Six Nations after having ankle surgery.

The 22-year-old was injured during Bath's victory over Leicester on 30 December and is expected to be out for up to three months.

That would see him miss the tournament, which starts on Friday 1 February and ends on Saturday 16 March.

England travel to Dublin to face Ireland in their first match on 2 February (kick-off 16:45 GMT).

Underhill was part of England's 2018 Six Nations side and featured in three of the autumn internationals.

In better news for England, Saracens' Maro Itoje, as expected, has returned to action in time for the start of this season's Six Nations.

The 24-year-old second row has not played since chipping his kneecap during the autumn internationals.

"It was a weird one because I could run, I could jump, I could do everything I needed to do - with pain," he said.

"I was able to flex my quad, so all the markers you would test for injury, I passed them all. There was still a little bit of discomfort, then it eased, then it came back again.

"On the whole it was feeling relatively good but it just wasn't getting any better so we had to have a deeper look at it and the results came up."

Analysis

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones

After an injury-plagued first season in England, Underhill came of age in the recent autumn internationals, with an outstanding individual performance against the All Blacks.

But his ankle problem means he will likely now miss the whole of the Championship. While Eddie Jones will be buoyed by the return to fitness of Tom Curry, England will miss Underhill's physicality and abrasion - especially on the opening weekend in Dublin.

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134 comments

Comment posted by trebizond, at 14:01 11 Jan 2019
As a non-England supporting lover of the game, I'm kind of happy we don't have to face an England team with him in, but also unhappy that I won't get to see one of the game's more dynamic young players out on the pitch.
Comment posted by User0464333620, at 12:08 11 Jan 2019
Tough break. Probably england's one decent openside flanker at present. But better to be ready for the World Cup then try to rush his rehabilitation
Comment posted by Dai Quietly, at 12:05 11 Jan 2019
Big blow for England that. Quality player
Comment posted by Bendigeidfran Bach, at 13:45 11 Jan 2019
As a Welshman, can't help but breathe a small sigh of relief. What a player.
Comment posted by marko, at 12:12 11 Jan 2019
At times like this I find it's best to go for a curry or two.
Comment posted by Trungle TV, at 12:17 11 Jan 2019
6N or WC?
Much rather have him ready for the WC!
Speedy recovery Sam.
Comment posted by UNITED, at 12:12 11 Jan 2019
Great opportunity for Tom Curry - he has been class for Sale in recent weeks and is a better turnover specialist than Underhill IMO
Comment posted by User0956515353, at 16:07 11 Jan 2019
Many say that Gareth Anscombe's disalllowed try was the reason Eng. beat Wales but I say it was Underhill's tackle on Scott Williams was the reason. Very few, if any, other no.7s would have been able to pick themselves up and make up that much ground. He also showed his class and pace to finish off that disallowed try v AB. When are officials going to give the benefit of doubt to attacking teams?
Comment posted by Cardiffian, at 18:45 11 Jan 2019
Oil, you lot!! Can we be the sportsmen and women our particular sport enjoys and have some empathy... Sad for Sam but he'll return... Too many substitutes facilitating too big a player and a massive spike in injuries... Reduce that number, leading to players needing to stay the course: smaller fitter teams and more entertaining to watch.. Simples
Comment posted by Roundy, at 17:54 11 Jan 2019
Unlucky Sam, a great autmun series for you though.
I wonder if we can scratch a back row up out of whats left?
There's only;
Billy V
Jack Clifford
Wilson
The Currys
Shields
Ted Hill
Matt Kvesic
Dombrandt
Armand
Lawes
Itoje

I reckon we can cobble something together
Comment posted by Eddyvortex, at 15:30 11 Jan 2019
Shame for the lad...he was starting to make his mark but let's get him sorted for W C 19.
Wilson, Billy and Curry looking good to start.

Have to express my sincere wish that Leigh Halfpenny makes a complete recovery. I would rather see him back on the pitch fully fit and scoring against us, than the awful alternative of permanent damage. A credit to the game.
Comment posted by gsalisbury, at 15:05 11 Jan 2019
Rugby HYS is so much friendlier that Football. Think I'll visit these more often.

Shame. Really like Underhill, and would have been good to get some more experience in before the WC. Rest up lad :-)
Comment posted by conan the librarian, at 15:41 11 Jan 2019
in my distant day you would wear boots with ankle protection and the girls in the backs soccer type ones.you could quite easily waddle from one ruck to another and heaven forbid run on limited occasions,now they are all fit and forwards run everywhere..........it brings me out in a cold sweat when i watch it
Comment posted by Cardiffian, at 19:20 11 Jan 2019
The problem with jackling opensides is the hammering their body takes..Sam Warburton, Ellis Jenkins to name two...Sam Under will suffer like the rest unfortunately. Just take a moment when watching a game and consider the bashing they take.... Something must alter, for their sake..
Comment posted by thewayitis, at 16:19 11 Jan 2019
Underhill is established as England's No1 7. It being World Cup year maybe it's quite all right that he has time out to come back stronger, while letting Curry really press his case for the shirt and bed himself in to international rugby. He is good enough, just needed a chance. By the World Cup England could have two excellent recognised 7s - what a contrast to not having any a short while back.
Comment posted by TheCat13, at 14:15 11 Jan 2019
It's a blow but not a massive one as lets face it, Eddie rarely plays people in their correct positions anyway. Sam was probably being lined up to play either Hooker or Full Back in the Six Nations anyway!

On a serious note, Curry is a more than capable replacement, as is Kvesic (if he is ever given a go).
Comment posted by Swanseaboy1, at 13:59 11 Jan 2019
I agree with Mike @14, as a Welshman I am glad he's not playing against Wales in this years 6N's as he is a great player and his tackle in last years game cost wales a win against England. I'm not biased but maybe the fact he learnt his craft whilst playing for the Ospreys as a young man has made him into one of the best back rowers in the UK
Comment posted by Logical reasoning , at 13:59 11 Jan 2019
Shame as he's a great player, still got Tom Curry though. Would have loved to see him, Curry and Billy, but I guess we'll have to "settle" for Wilson, Curry and Billy
Comment posted by TARW, at 17:38 11 Jan 2019
Good player, a great shame.
Comment posted by theTrinity, at 12:16 11 Jan 2019
Allows him to rest and then have a few games before the Summer friendlies. Not a disaster for England, only for Bath