England wing Henry Arundell has escaped a ban following his red card in the Six Nations defeat to Scotland, with a disciplinary panel ruling that the in-game sanction was sufficient. The decision means the 23-year-old Bath player is immediately available for selection, including for England's crucial round three clash against Ireland at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium this Saturday.
Calcutta Cup Clash Ends England's Winning Streak
Arundell was sent off by referee Nika Amashukeli during the Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield after committing two yellow card offences. This dismissal contributed to England's 31-20 loss, which brought an end to their impressive 12-match winning streak. The first incident saw Arundell penalised for failing to release before contesting a ruck following a Scottish line-break.
Second Incident Reviewed But Not Upgraded
The second yellow card offence involved Arundell making contact in the air with Scottish counterpart Kyle Steyn. The foul play review officer examined this incident to consider a potential upgrade to a direct red card but ultimately maintained the yellow card designation. Despite this, the accumulation of two yellow cards resulted in a 20-minute red card, forcing England to replace Arundell with Fin Smith and reorganise their backline for that period.
Disciplinary Panel Clears Arundell of Further Action
Appearing before a disciplinary panel convened by the Six Nations on Tuesday morning, Arundell was cleared of any additional sanction. The panel determined that the matchday punishment was adequate, allowing the wing to resume playing without suspension. This development comes as England head coach Steve Borthwick contemplates potential changes to his starting lineup and bench for the upcoming Ireland match.
Borthwick Considers Backline Adjustments
With Arundell now available, Borthwick is reportedly evaluating several options for his backline selection. Players such as Ollie Lawrence, George Furbank, and Elliot Daly are under consideration for potential inclusion. Changes may also extend to the back row as England seeks to rebound from their defeat to Scotland.
Coach Reflects on Impact of Red Card
Speaking after the match, Borthwick acknowledged that playing with 14 men for 30 minutes significantly disadvantaged his team. "Scotland are a very good side," Borthwick stated. "They moved the ball well, and clearly we were down to 14 men, and they hurt us down that edge, where we were missing the winger."
He added, "We adapted and tried to get some more width, but quite clearly when you lose that man, you lose that pace, then against a team with as much talent and ball-moving at pace as they have, then it becomes very difficult." The coach's comments highlight the tactical challenges posed by Arundell's absence during the critical period of the match.
