Jack Nowell left sweating on Rugby World Cup hopes after ankle injury mars epic Premiership final
England will await news on Nowell’s condition after the Exeter back left Twickenham on crutches during Exeter’s 37-34 defeat against Saracens in the Premiership final
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Your support makes all the difference.Jack Nowell’s Rugby World Cup is in doubt after the England wing limped off during Exeter Chiefs’ 37-34 Premiership final defeat with a nasty-looking knee injury.
The 26-year-old was one of the stars of the show at Twickenham until the 70th minute, when a legal tackle from Saracens wing Sean Maitland saw him bend backwards over his left leg and scream out in agony.
Saracens hooker Jamie George was seen urging referee Wayne Barnes to stop play, with Nowell in visible pain as he received treatment, and although the Exeter full-back was able to get to his feet and walk off the field under his own weight, he left Twickenham on crutches.
Nowell will face a nervous wait to have a scan on the injury, which Rob Baxter said was to his previously troublesome ankle, and more news should be known in mid-week.
“It is a little early to say,” Baxter said afterwards. “I haven’t been able to catch up with him or the medics who are dealing with him. I would imagine it will be the usual story – until he has a scan (we won’t know.)
“It looked like his ankle and he has had a couple of ankle issues this season. Until he has had a scan it is going to be hard to thoroughly assess it.
“He was outstanding today wasn’t he? He was very difficult to put on the floor, very strong, quick and elusive.”
Nowell, along with England teammate Henry Slade, had been instrumental in building an 11-point lead for Exeter after an hour’s play, only for Saracens to shift through the gears and respond with tries from Liam Williams, Sean Maitland and Jamie George’s match-sealing score.
A year ago, Baxter expressed his disappointment as Exeter failed to get out of the blocks in their 27-10 defeat, but the side who finished top of the Premiership table left Twickenham this time around with their heads held high as the director of rugby noted how proud he was of his side in pushing the European champions so close.
Asked if this Saracens team was the best English club side of all time, Baxter said: “They probably are.
“Their record speaks for itself. They're winning Premierships, they're winning European Cups. It feels to me like we're disappointed that we haven't beaten them, so that bodes well for Exeter Chiefs as well.
“What I have to do now is convince this group of players that if they keep working hard and moving in the right direction we should be challenging again next year. If you can take the European champions that close then there has to be more in Europe for us.”
Saracens boss Mark McCall admitted that his side were far from their best as they allowed Exeter to get on top of them for the second and third quarters, but praised the resilience that the players showed in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in what was their seventh consecutive major final victory.
"We huffed and puffed, but somehow this group found a way physically and emotionally,” McCall said.
"It was a really tough final - the toughest we have ever had in the Premiership. We couldn't control them, but somehow this group never ceases to amazes me in finding a way and the energy.
"We looked tired and once we went three points up we played great pressure rugby and it was a real masterclass. It's our seventh consecutive win in a final, which is an incredible achievement from this group of players. This is our most-satisfying win."
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