Covid 1 England 0

How can England captain Owen Farrell, who yesterday tested positive for Covid-19, possibly play against Tonga at Twickenham on Saturday?

Farrell – currently in isolation and therefore missing England’s final team run today – has not, it seems, been officially ruled out. 

Apparently he will undergo undergo further PCR and lateral flow testing later today, so I guess Eddie Jones is relying on yesterday’s test being a false positive which, if that is the case, is clutching at straws.

All in all, the preparation has hardly been ideal, 

with tyro no.10 Marcus Smith being unable to train for most of the week with a lower leg injury.

And the thing is, this Covid-19 virus is, it turns out, quote contagious, so heaven knows what team, if any, England will be able to field by tomorrow afternoon.

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was