England will be sweating over the fitness of Tom Curry after the back-row came off injured while playing for Sale Sharks against Harlequins on Sunday.
Curry departed the action early in the first period at the Twickenham Stoop with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and was replaced by Jono Ross.
The star flank injured his right leg during a tackle by Quins tighthead prop Wilco Louw and is now a doubt for England‘s Six Nations opener next month.
Race against time for Scotland
Steve Borthwick’s men will take on Scotland at Twickenham on February 4 as they look to kick off a new era in positive fashion against their old rivals.
But they might go into that meeting without the influential Curry, who is set to have a scan on the injury as he looks to return in time for the opener.
“Even if a hamstring injury is the lowest grade, they are generally two to three weeks,” Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said on Sunday.
“I’ve just spoken to Tom and said get your head on for the Six Nations but don’t stop being a leader for us over the next two or three weeks.
“He’ll get a scan. He’s walking around and it’s stiffened up now. It’s not one of those where he limped off the field so fingers crossed he will be available against Scotland.”
Sale Sharks won the fixture against their top-of-the-table rivals 24-16 in a bonus-point success that puts them 12 points clear of third-placed Harlequins.
“It was pretty solid. I was really happy with the ambition we showed throughout the game and that meant we came away with a bonus point. In terms of outcomes that’s exactly what you want,” Sanderson said after the win on the road.
“There were still a couple of missed opportunities out there but we’ll take the four tries and five points.
“The lads said how much they were enjoying it in the dark and the depths of a really, really wet and muddy day in winter. To come through it and to love it is testament to the fact we’re in a good place.
“You build belief and we’re in the best place to take on Toulouse next weekend. We feel good, we’re really tight and we’re playing some good rugby.”
Harlequins will be disappointed with their showing as they were outmuscled in the first run-out since attack coach Nick Evans was unveiled by England.
Could Evans move be long term?
The Kiwi coach will return to the Stoop during England’s rest weeks and Quins boss Tabai Matson conceded the appointment could be made permanent.
“There’s always that possibility. But in my mind, he will help us finish the rest of the season very strongly,” Matson said.
“We’re really excited for Nick. When our attack is going well, he is clearly the mastermind behind it. And you always love it when people get promoted to higher honours.
“It’s a short-term gig and during the Six Nations fallow weeks he will spend a little bit of time here, keeping an eye on us. We won’t use him too much because he’s been given a really important job to do with England.”
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