Ellis Genge: England prop tests positive for Covid-19 and is out of Australia Test

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments106

Bevan Rodd
Bevan Rodd will now make his England debut as a starter, having only been called back into the training camp Wednesday
Autumn Test: England v Australia
Date: Saturday, 13 November Kick-off: 17:45 GMT Venue: Twickenham
Coverage: Live updates on the BBC Sport website and app

England loose-head prop Ellis Genge has tested positive for Covid-19, meaning uncapped Sale prop Bevan Rodd will start against Australia on Saturday.

Newcastle's Trevor Davison, who earned his only England cap in July, replaces Rodd on the bench.

Joe Marler - who came on for Genge against Tonga last weekend - is out after a positive test on Monday.

Owen Farrell did not play last weekend after a test said he had Covid-19, but it was found to be a false positive.

The RFU said Genge is isolating and that no other positive results have been returned by players or staff, who were tested again on Friday.

England's coronavirus issues began when a member of their support staff tested positive on 4 November.

The side trained at Twickenham as planned on Friday morning.

Davison's call-up comes as experienced England international Mako Vunipola continues to be left out of the squad.

England: Steward; Tuilagi, Slade, Farrell (capt) May; Smith, Youngs; Rodd, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.

Replacements: Blamire, Davison, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Simmonds, Quirke, Malins.

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107 comments

  • Comment posted by Empirestrikesback, today at 11:51

    From a Kiwi...... folks, all this negativity.

    Congratulations Bevan Rodd on your first cap..

    • Reply posted by Pedro Bristol, today at 12:05

      Pedro Bristol replied:
      Well said and congratulations in the cricket.. Good luck for the final!!!

  • Comment posted by RMC 1964, today at 11:39

    How about (and bear with me on this one) EJ's project of playing players out of position to be given a real workout?
    Farrell to loose-head.
    Then he can save face by returning Tuilagi to 12 and Radwan to the wing. Genius.

    • Reply posted by Trytastic, today at 11:55

      Trytastic replied:
      Radwan is still injured, this has been posted for over 24 hours now

  • Comment posted by Obsen, today at 11:36

    Shame for Genge, but what an opportunity for Rodd. All the best to the lad.

  • Comment posted by Joel, today at 11:51

    why a comment section for this? he is covid positive and cannot play, that's it. that's why there are more than 15 players in a squad, or am I missing something?

    • Reply posted by Pholmes, today at 12:01

      Pholmes replied:
      Because BBC knows the public have a weird dislike for Genge and England, thus more clicks, thus more comments etc

  • Comment posted by FeIchmeister 5000, today at 11:52

    Eddie Jones can't win with some people... you complain he should be blooding new players when he persists with more experienced squad members, and you complain he should be calling up experienced players when he brings in uncapped talent

    • Reply posted by The Janner, today at 12:16

      The Janner replied:
      Well said. Debate amongst fans is always a good thing but the negativity towards Eddie by some on here is ridiculous. I like the fact that he's trying new players or experimenting with different ideas, some things work and some things don't.

  • Comment posted by First name, today at 11:41

    Wait Eddie is trusting Rodd to start???

    Thought I would see Ewels moved into the front row.

  • Comment posted by SammyG100, today at 11:55

    So Great to see lion Sam Simmonds in the squad where he rightfully deserves to be!

  • Comment posted by fobber, today at 11:37

    Can't believe George Furbank did'nt get the nod!!

    • Reply posted by First name, today at 11:40

      First name replied:
      I agree. He is the sort of player that can play in any position.

  • Comment posted by MrBounce, today at 11:40

    The difficulty that Jones has is that he can probably only use players in his squad due to Covid protocols. So all the calls for Mako/Hepburn/Moon are null and void.

    Here's hoping that Rodd and Davison show us that they're worthy. Good luck guys!

    • Reply posted by TheRealist, today at 11:48

      TheRealist replied:
      yes, those protocols are working really well!

  • Comment posted by Pholmes, today at 12:05

    Another big loss, Genge was excellent against Tonga and held his own very well against the behemoth of a tighthead last week.

    Rodd has a chance to prove his belonging in the selection here, all the best to him from a fellow ex Dunoon resident!

    • Reply posted by ComradPravda, today at 12:12

      ComradPravda replied:
      We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Comment posted by Pig, today at 12:02

    The more fresh faces that get to play in these games the better.

  • Comment posted by liverpool supporter right here, today at 11:46

    Wow. Another article about a player catching a virus

  • Comment posted by WindsorBloke, today at 11:44

    Just taken a look at the picture above. What's Jamie Roberts doing in the England squad?

    • Reply posted by Raging Bull, today at 11:46

      Raging Bull replied:
      Eddie needed him for the other wing

  • Comment posted by 21stone number7, today at 11:35

    Hold on,Eddie, I haven't played loose head for forty years but i'm going to find my boots.

  • Comment posted by WindsorBloke, today at 11:42

    Oz aren't one of the better scrummaging teams so it's a great opportunity to test some new props.

    • Reply posted by Upfromdown, today at 11:49

      Upfromdown replied:
      Especially with their top 3 THP out, and their top LHP having to cover THP

  • Comment posted by liesdamnlies, today at 11:39

    Expect more! There's a delay between infection and testing positive........

    • Reply posted by First name, today at 11:41

      First name replied:
      Thanks for that.

  • Comment posted by Yoshik53, today at 11:31

    What has Mako done? It is the Aussies we are playing. Surely his experience would count?

    • Reply posted by NickFoord, today at 11:36

      NickFoord replied:
      You lose your two most experienced LH's in the squad and refuse to call up Mako/Alec Hepburn/Ben Moon who've been in and around the squad the past 2/3 years......even if just for this game. Could be genuis from EJ, could be sheer stubbornness?!

  • Comment posted by Bruinsdude22, today at 12:20

    Never ending.....

  • Comment posted by beshocked, today at 12:14

    It's really a disappointing starting team. People complaining about the backs, I think the pack looks imbalanced. The front five replacements isn't exciting either.

    Two no 8s on the bench. Don't understand that strategy.

  • Comment posted by A Pedant, today at 12:03

    Worrying news for the England squad. Hopefully this positive case doesn't go any further than Genge otherwise we could lose quite a few first choice players for the SA game.

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