Italy could be without one Ange Capuozzo for the remainder of the Six Nations.
The livewire fullback suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday’s 33-8 defeat to France in Lille, and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Making his first appearance of the year after recovering from a finger injury, Capuozzo endured a bruising 72-minute shift. He was peppered with high balls from the outset and absorbed several heavy tackles, yet still crossed for Italy’s only try and finished as his side’s leading ball carrier.
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His afternoon, however, ended in concern.
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada admitted post-match that the Toulouse star could face a spell on the sidelines, with early indications pointing towards an acromioclavicular injury – an issue that can require anything from three weeks to three months of recovery.
“He hurt his shoulder, but the early prognosis is that it’s more likely an acromioclavicular injury than a dislocation, but I’m not a doctor; I stopped in my fourth year,” Quesada said.
“I think we’ll see once he’s had some scans. Maybe it’s more the acromion (shoulder blade) than a dislocation, which can change a lot of things, especially for Ugo (Mola), because otherwise he’s going to get angry.”
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Italy were forced into a late reshuffle in the closing stages in Lille. Capuozzo departed as the Azzurri finished the final eight minutes with a rejigged back three, Monty Ioane replaced by Paolo Odogwu and Louis Lynagh in the sin-bin for a second time in the championship following a deliberate knock-on.
If scans confirm the worst, Capuozzo’s championship could be over almost as soon as it began.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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