Alfie Barbeary is going through the prospect of a suspension that will possible rule him out of the beginning of England’s Six Nations marketing campaign, handing Steve Borthwick a headache as he prepares to call his squad. Compounding issues for the top coach, Exeter’s Greg Fisilau – one other brilliant prospect at No 8 – has additionally been cited and he, too, faces a potential ban.
The uncapped Barbeary starred in Tub’s high quality Champions Cup victory in opposition to Racing 92 on Sunday regardless of selecting up two yellow playing cards, resulting in his sending off late within the recreation. The 23-year-old former Wasps back-rower was on Monday cited individually for each incidents and will choose up two suspensions at his listening to on Wednesday. Fisilau, in the meantime, escaped with a yellow card for his half in a head-on-head collision with Duncan Weir however he too has been summoned to a disciplinary listening to afterward Tuesday.
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Barbeary’s first yellow card came for a dangerous tackle on Max Spring in the sixth minute of the match, his second for dangerously striking Nolann Le Garrec with his forearm with five minutes remaining. As both offences involved contact with the head or neck, Barbeary is facing entry-point bans of six weeks. To be available for the start of the Six Nations then, Barbeary would need to be cleared on both counts. Even if both citing complaints are dismissed, the red card decision would still be heard. The silver lining is that if he were to pick up two bans they would most likely run concurrently, as was the case with Toulouse’s Thomas Ramos for two incidents against Sale last season.
Any ban for Barbeary, however, would likely be a blow to Borthwick, who will unveil his England squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday. The head coach is already preparing to field a new-look back row for England’s championship opener against Italy on 3 February with Tom Curry injured and Courtney Lawes retired from international duty. Barbeary – in fine form this season – is just the sort of dynamic ball-carrier to breathe life into his side.
Barbeary was on Eddie Jones’s radar when still plying his trade at hooker but has endured rotten luck with injuries whenever an England cap has appeared to beckon. Fisilau, another forced to leave Wasps after the club went bust, has also caught the eye for his performances for Exeter and was afforded special praise by Borthwick this month.