England No 8 Billy Vunipola has been spotted wearing an ankle boot outside the team hotel in Japan.
The English bulldozer picked up an injury in the first-half of his side’s clash with Argentina last Saturday, not appearing for the second-half of the contest.
Since then there has been plenty of speculation as to whether he will play any part in the side’s crunch clash with France this weekend, however, after being spotted with the boot fans fear that the injury could be even worse than first thought.
Speaking ahead of that fixture attack coach Scott Wisemantel has confirmed that Vunipola has undergone a scan on the ankle and they are awaiting the results, while also confirming that he is not training with the rest of the squad.
“We’re being overly cautious. If there’s any risk he will not be 100 per cent he won’t play, but I don’t know the outcome of the scan. If there’s any risk, we won’t risk him,” he said.
Following his removal from the field on Saturday regular flanker Tom Curry slotted in at No 8 as the English ran riot, although it is believed that Mark Wilson will step into Vunipola’s shoes over the weekend if he is unavailable. The big worry is that the injury could rule him out of the remainder of the tournament but everyone will be hoping that one of the game’s star names will recover quickly and get back on the pitch.
England know a win will see them progress as pool winners, but they will be all too aware that the French will be hoping to cause a huge upset and finish top of the group standings themselves.
