England's preparations for their Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland have been thrown into disarray by a thumb injury to captain Owen Farrell.
Farrell is undergoing a procedure to repair ligament damage and is expected to return in seven to 10 days, making him available for the title showdown in Dublin in a fortnight.
However, with England departing for their pre-tournament training camp in Portugal on Wednesday, the Saracens playmaker's ability to train will be severely restricted.
