Six Nations injury latest: Ball, May and Visser doubts to feature

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | January 1, 2016

England’s injury count for their maiden Six Nations campaign under first foreign head coach Eddie Jones may be up to four, after it emerged Gloucester wing Jonny May needs knee surgery.

Despite definitely being without prop Kieran Brooks, back row Dave Ewers and centre Henry Slade, Coral maintain the Red Rose as 15/8 favourites to win the Six Nations for the first time since 2011.

May, 25, has 19 England caps and has been a squad regular since making his senior international debut in 2013. Jones’ debut game in charge is a Calcutta Cup clash away to Scotland at Murrayfield on February 6th.

Ball no longer a lock for Six Nations

Wales’ Jake Ball, meanwhile, has been ruled out for 10 weeks also with a knee injury, meaning the Scarlets lock will miss most of the spring internationals.

The 24-year-old has 15 caps for the Dragons, but damaged his medial ligament is a narrow Boxing Day defeat by Ospreys.

Injuries have been a major issue for the Wales under Warren Gatland recently, and that explains why they are 3/1 chances to regain the Six Nations crown from Ireland, who are their first opponents in this campaign.