Six Nations: Roebuck, Smith and Lawrence close as England return to clash with Scotland

Three of England’s key players are close to returning to full fitness in time The Calcutta Cup clash next weekend With Scotland in Edinburgh.

Winger Tom Roebuck, Finn Smith and center Oli Lawrence will all miss this weekend’s match against Wales, but could return for the second match of the Six Nations, according to boss Steve Borthwick.

Roebuck has not played since breaking his toe against New Zealand in November, while Smith is recovering from a calf injury and Lawrence has a knee problem.

However, Ben Curry, who quit the team last month, is unlikely to feature in the tournament.

After making his debut in the summer of 2024, Roebuck has established himself as one of England’s leading wingers.

“He is ahead of schedule but ideally he needs a few more days,” explained Borthwick, who selected Henry Arundel as a winger for his 12th cap against Wales.

Smith, who was England’s fly-half for much of last year’s Six Nations Championship, is now back in full training.

“This is another great player in our mix,” Borthwick added.

Lawrence, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Bath last month, is working “extraordinarily hard” to regain fitness and provide additional competition for places in midfield.

“He’s not available this week, but in the very near future he will be,” Borthwick said.

However, Ben Curry, who has been replaced in the squad by Jack Kenningham, will need “everything to go right” to emerge on the back of the Six Nations as he recovers from a hamstring problem.

England opens its campaign against Wales before facing Scotland away from home a week later and Ireland at Twickenham on February 21. After a week of rest, Borthwick’s team travels to Italy and then France.

“That’s why this competition is so good, because you have five fierce games, five tough games, three back-to-back games and three away games,” hooker Jamie George, who captains the team against Wales, told Rugby Union Weekly.

“It’s going to be really tough but it’s also exciting and we hope we get the best out of us.”