Courtney Lawes out of Six Nations opener

Courtney Lawes will miss start of the Six Nations because of a minor ankle surgery.
The England lock, who suffered the injury against Leicester just before Christmas, is going under the knife today and Northampton boss Jim Malinger as revealed Lawes is likely to be out for the first few weeks of the Six Nations as well as the Champions Cup pool decider against Northampton on Saturday.
“Courtney, unfortunately, has not recovered from his ankle injury,” Mallinder said. “He will be going in for a little operation today (Monday). He has got a little bit of bone that he just needs clearing out.
“It is just a little bit of bone that chipped off in the Leicester game. He would be expected to get back while the Six Nations is still going on.
“It is a blow for us because we haven’t got him for next week, and it is a blow for him and England because he is a key player.”