Lawes is ruled out of England’s opening autumn international fixture against Argentina after still suffering the effects of a head injury
Courtney Lawes’ value to England was crystallised in the 79th minute of the third Test against Australia in Sydney. At the end of a grinding contest to finish an exhausting season, Lawes must have been running on empty. But he summoned more.
Trailing 21-17 and in pursuit of a try that would have snatched the series, Australia spread the ball across the field just ahead of their own 22. Lawes drifted across to help Owen Farrell to tackle Samu Kerevi. He was not finished. Lawes bounced to his feet and forced a counter-rucking turnover. He was not finished. Lawes carried a phase later, slipping past Rob Leota and almost scoring.
It was an astonishing sequence from an exceptional player and the 33-year-old leaves a sizeable hole while he recovers from concussion. Injuries to Ollie Chessum, Charlie Ewels, Nick Isiekwe, Lewis Ludlam and Sam Underhill complicate matters further and Joe Launchbury is overlooked as well. There is the captaincy to delegate, with Tom Curry, Farrell and Ellis Genge the primary candidates.
Lawes has also been a figurehead of England’s line-out and their defence, as well as a skilful attacker. With all that in mind, who does Eddie Jones turn to in the back row?