England were handed a double Six Nations headache on Saturday after European Champions Cup action saw flanker James Haskell red-carded and No8 Billy Vunipola suffer another injury setback.
Haskell was sent off in Wasps' dramatic 33-28 defeat by Harlequins for a shoulder-led high tackle on Welsh centre Jamie Roberts.
Whats done is done, but just want to publicly apologise to @Jamiehuwroberts," Haskell tweeted after the game.
"Never my intention to hurt another player. Got my height wrong, paid the price, which happens. You know me, never one to do anything subtly."
Whats done is done, but just want to publicly apologise to @Jamiehuwroberts. Never my intention to hurt another player. Got my height wrong, paid the price, which happens. You know me, never one to do anything subtly. Credit to @Harlequins and apologies to @WaspsRugby fans
— James Haskell (@jameshaskell) January 13, 2018
England open their Six Nations against Italy on February 4 knowing Haskell faces a ban for an offence that appears to be in the mid-range of making a dangerous tackle, which would result in a six-week suspension.
Meanwhile, Vunipola went off at half-time during Saracens' 15-15 draw with the Ospreys after appearing to suffer a wrist injury in only his second comeback game following three months' sidelined because of knee trouble.
"He (Vunipola) has an arm injury which we will obviously explore right away," said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
"I don't know what the extent of the injury is."
FIXTURES
Six Nations 2018
Round one
Saturday February 3
Wales vs Scotland, Millennium Stadium, 2:15pm local, Sunday 1:15am AEDT
France vs Ireland, Stade de France, 4:45pm local, Sunday 2:45am AEDT
Sunday February 4
Italy vs England, Stadio Olimpico, 3pm local, Monday 1am AEDT
Round two
Saturday February 10
Ireland vs Italy, Aviva Stadium, 2:15om local, Sunday 1:15am AEDT
England vs Wales, Twickenham, 4:45pm local, Sunday 3:45am AEDT
Sunday February 11
Scotland vs France, Murrayfield Stadium, 3pm local, Monday 2am AEDT
Round three
Friday February 23
France vs Italy, Stade de France, 8pm local, Saturday 6am AEDT
Saturday February 24
Ireland vs Wales, Aviva Stadium, 2:15pm local, Sunday 1:15am AEDT
Scotland vs England, Murrayfield Stadium, 4:45pm local, Sunday 3:45am AEDT
Round four
Saturday March 10
Ireland vs Scotland, Aviva Stadium, 2:15pm local, Sunday 1:15am AEDT
France vs England, Stade de France, 4:45pm local, Sunday 3:45am AEDT
Sunday March 11
Wales vs Italy, Millennium Stadium, 3pm local, Monday 2am AEDT
Round five
Saturday March 17
Italy vs Scotland, Stadio Olimpico, 12:30pm local, 10:30pm AEDT
England vs Ireland, Twickenham, 2:45pm local, Sunday 1:45am AEDT
Wales vs France, Millennium Stadium, 5pm local, Sunday 4am AEDT
