Ward-Smith blow for England

Dan Ward-Smith was stretchered off at Northampton with a serious knee injury that could rule him out of England’s entire Six Nations campaign.

The Bristol number eight suffered damage to his right knee in a pile up on his own line 15 minutes into the game and received oxygen from the medical team at Franklin’s Gardens before being carried off.

The 28-year-old is understood to have dislocated his right knee and the accompanying ligament damage is likely to see him sidelined for the rest of the season.

Ward-Smith was odds-on to make his England debut in the Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham next weekend in head coach Brian Ashton’s rejuvenated side.

Instead Ashton may be forced to make a u-turn and recall Martin Corry, who led England in all four autumn internationals before being replaced as captain by Phil Vickery.