ENGLAND INJURY WORRIES
Doubts over Joe Launchbury hinder plans for Bloemfontein Test
England’s chances of levelling the three-Test series against the Springboks are being hampered by continued doubts over the availability of experienced lock Joe Launchbury for Saturday’s second match in Bloemfontein. Launchbury was sorely missed in the first Test in Johannesburg, with the second row in particular struggling to meet the expectations of coach Eddie Jones, who surprised some with his decision to replace young Nick Isiekwe before half-time. Afterwards Jones described it as a tactical substitution aimed at adjusting the pack to the pace of the game, but there is a feeling among the England scribes that Jones humiliated the 20-year-old and the substitution was an indication that the coach feels he does not yet hit the mark as an international tight forward. Maro Itoje was not good either in the 42-39 defeat, and if Launchbury is unavailable on Saturday the visitors will lack experience in the second row. Launchbury has been one of Jones’s key players over the past few sea...
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