- Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said England will ‘hope it’s not as bad as it looks’
- Steve Borthwick’s side will face Japan and New Zealand in tour games in summer
- Genge has been first-choice loosehead prop when fit and key man for his coach
Ellis Genge suffered a calf injury which has thrown his participation in England’s summer tour matches with Japan and New Zealand into doubt as Bristol just missed out on a play-off spot.
Genge is a vital figure for national head coach Steve Borthwick and an undisputed first-choice at loosehead prop when fit. He has also led his country and been vice captain under Borthwick.
The 29-year-old was forced off in the first half of his team’s hammering of Harlequins. The victory would have been enough for the Bears to make the semi-finals but they were undone by Sale’s win at Saracens.
‘He popped his calf in the scrum,’ Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said of Genge’s injury.
‘I don’t know how bad it is. Hopefully for England it’s not as bad as it looks.’
Genge was carried from the field with the support of three Bristol medical staff and ended the afternoon with his foot in a protective boot and on crutches.
Borthwick will now be sweating on the fitness of one of his most important players ahead of a meeting with Japan in Tokyo on June 22 and two Tests with New Zealand on July 6 and 13.
Genge scored one of Bristol’s seven tries and also had another ruled out before limping off.
Lam lost Genge, Benhard Janse van Rensburg (hip) and Callum Sheedy (knee) to a trio of first-half knocks but it still couldn’t stop his side from running riot.
Sheedy damaged his posterior cruciate ligament which means he will be on the sidelines for at least four months. That’s bad news for his new club Cardiff who he will join this summer.
Bristol played some superb rugby as Harlequins were put to the sword for the second straight week.
The only shame for Lam was that Sale’s shock victory meant their scintillating rugby was rendered redundant.
James Williams opened the away scoring after just 55 seconds. Genge made it two and Gabriel Ibitoye, Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, Noah Heward and Gabriel Oghre completed the rout.
As they were against Exeter last weekend, Harlequins were in the contest at the break before badly running out of puff. Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt and Luke Northmore scored home tries.
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson said: ‘In the last two weeks we’ve conceded 53 and 58 points. We’ve scored four tries and not even come close. Fair play to Bristol, they ran everything and we got cut to ribbons. The last two weeks has been stinging.’