England Suffer Another Blow As Farrell is Ruled Out
Rugby World Cup: Andy Farrell strains calf muscle and will miss quarter-final against Australia.
Andy Farrell will play no part in England's quarter-final against Australia this Saturday after he strained his right calf muscle during training.
Farrell's presence at inside center was a key part of Brian Ashton's strategy for the match, the England coach highlighting the fact that Farrell would help bring a "direct approach" to England's back line. His defensive qualities were also seen to be vital, given that Australia's center pairing of Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock is one of the most formidable in the tournament.
"Andy Farrell's right calf suffered a reaction after training yesterday," read an England statement. "A clinical review and MRI scan this morning confirmed a strain and the Saracens centre is now being rehabilitated by the England medical team."
No announcement will be made on Farrell's replacement until tomorrow, though Ashton appears to have a straight choice between Olly Barkley, who had been on the bench, and Mike Catt, who has not played since the humiliating defeat to South Africa in the group stages.
But it later emerged that Barkley had been hurt in the same training session and is currently nursing a dead leg. He said: "I got a dead leg in training yesterday. I am walking fine and we will just have to wait and see what happens in selection."
Barkley admitted he would be disappointed if Ashton does not hand him the No12 shirt but reflected on how injuries had dogged England's World Cup campaign. Barkley, Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto and now Farrell have all suffered cruel setbacks at various stages of the tournament which has forced Ashton into various degrees of chopping and changing.
Barkley added: "That has just been our luck in this World Cup. If you are on the bench in this team, you are as good as starting sometimes. Myself and Faz were injured about five minutes apart in training. I sat down, then Faz came and sat down.
"I think he was just running, chasing a kick. I, unfortunately, got a flying Phil Vickery in the side of my leg. They were two freak incidents, really."
Farrell's presence at inside center was a key part of Brian Ashton's strategy for the match, the England coach highlighting the fact that Farrell would help bring a "direct approach" to England's back line. His defensive qualities were also seen to be vital, given that Australia's center pairing of Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock is one of the most formidable in the tournament.
"Andy Farrell's right calf suffered a reaction after training yesterday," read an England statement. "A clinical review and MRI scan this morning confirmed a strain and the Saracens centre is now being rehabilitated by the England medical team."
No announcement will be made on Farrell's replacement until tomorrow, though Ashton appears to have a straight choice between Olly Barkley, who had been on the bench, and Mike Catt, who has not played since the humiliating defeat to South Africa in the group stages.
But it later emerged that Barkley had been hurt in the same training session and is currently nursing a dead leg. He said: "I got a dead leg in training yesterday. I am walking fine and we will just have to wait and see what happens in selection."
Barkley admitted he would be disappointed if Ashton does not hand him the No12 shirt but reflected on how injuries had dogged England's World Cup campaign. Barkley, Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto and now Farrell have all suffered cruel setbacks at various stages of the tournament which has forced Ashton into various degrees of chopping and changing.
Barkley added: "That has just been our luck in this World Cup. If you are on the bench in this team, you are as good as starting sometimes. Myself and Faz were injured about five minutes apart in training. I sat down, then Faz came and sat down.
"I think he was just running, chasing a kick. I, unfortunately, got a flying Phil Vickery in the side of my leg. They were two freak incidents, really."
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