Stuart Lancaster has announced that England will retain the starting XV from the game against Italy along with Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) and Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) for the rest of the training week, before the whole squad re-assembles on Monday, February 23.
In addition, Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) and Joe Launchbury (Wasps) will be with the squad to continue their rehabilitation this week. The rest of the squad will be released to play for their clubs in the Aviva Premiership this weekend
England Head Coach Lancaster said: “We have reviewed the Italy match this morning with the whole squad and, while we were pleased to score six tries and win by 30 points, we all know there is plenty to work on.
“We will release some players back to their clubs this evening as it will be a good opportunity for them to play for their clubs on a big Aviva Premiership weekend and before we get together ahead of the Ireland training week.
“Mike Brown is in in the early days of the graduated return to play protocol and will not be training this week. Geoff Parling, Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes will be released back to their clubs for further assessment and treatment with a view to them resuming training with us next week.”
Players retained for training
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Retained for rehabilitation
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Players released to Aviva Premiership clubs
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints)
Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
15 replies on “England retains 17-man training squad for Six Nations week off”
Suggests to me either one of two things, 1) they expect Brown to be fit 2) if he isn’t, they’ll go with Watson at 15 and Nowell on the wing
Hoping Brown is fit, but he should only play if he is definitely 100% right. Otherwise I’d rather we play Goode or Watson there.
Expect an unchanged line up other than those that are forced, other than possible 12T/Burrell switch.
Looks that way Jacob. Burrell seems to have got a smidgeon of negative press since the Italy game. I am not sure it is that warranted. I really hope that they stick with the same XV (fitness allowing). We have had enough change in the Centre without more tinkering.
Please, no Goode. Watson would be a much better choice at 15, if Brown isn’t fit to play. Agree we should stick with Burrell and JJ in the centers, given how well the partnership has paid off already, imagine how much potential there is if they are allowed some time to really gel.
My guess is they are considering either 36, Burrell with JJ on the wing, or Burrell, JJ with Nowel ont he wing.
Good news about Goode being released – he’s a very good club player but doesn’t seem to make the step up.
I hope Brown will be fit and we’re going for a back 3 of Nowell, Watson and him. May’s the only player who should be dropped in my opinion.
May definitely seemed like the weakest link on Sat.
But I was watching the highlights again for Cipriani’s try. May takes the ball in not a massively promising position but he’s off the mark so quickly that he drags in three defenders and despite their attentions, his speed gets him in a position to throw a great off-load to Cipriani who has a free run in from all the space that’s been created.
I don’t think anyone else would have had the straight-line speed to make that try happen
There is definitely great potential there if some of the iffy bits can be ironed out
I do agree, when he gets it right it’s hard to stop – that example and of course the try v New Zealand being the obvious examples. But he simply has to back himself! He has the pace, he just needs to use it.
NO, NO, NO to Goode. I don’t care what anyone says about how good he may be, it has NEVER translated to international.
If Brown isn’t going to be fit, Watson to FB, Nowell on the wing. If he is fit, then I do understand why there would be a consideration in dropping May and bringing Nowell in.
I really, really rate Nowell. Fantastic work rate, very physical, good defense, always makes ground.
Doesn’t seem fair on Bath. Northampton virtually full strength, Bath lose three key players.
As a Bath fan I’ve resisted the urge to moan about it because a) we can’t complain if our squad contains test-quality players and they are called up to play in tests, and b) Leicester lost more players than this to England in their glory days.
Saints are still losing two key players, as are Sarries, and Quins are losing three as well.
So if Brown is not fit, Watson goes to 15, with Nowell on the wing. Cips and 12T on the bench. Then we’ll have a fh/fb, and a centre/fh on the bench. Plus three wingers capable of covering fb (two of them can also play at 13), and a centre who can cover wing as well. That is a very versatile back line!!
Sitting on the bench doesn’t get guys match fit tho. Playing them in rotation, esp v against teams whom England are likely going to beat, might. Also, er, it covers injuries. England have had a few apparently. Or maybe it’s part of Lanc’s vision e.g., to wait for Ford to get crocked & force his hand again. Seems to be working for him… so far, but, the aforementioned Ford, hasn’t exactly been a world beater thus far. Not an egg beater either, but competent enough. However, Cipriani (SL really doesn’t like him does he?) can cut a midfield to pieces (& has done) & he’s out of his nappies now. Why do England continue to hang him out to dry? There’re no positives in this.
BTW, has Corbs dropped down the pecking? Or has he become invisible like Matt Mullan… & then there’s Joe Simpson of course?
Sorry Don but Ireland are not a team England are LIKELY to beat. CAN beat but only if they are at it one hundred per cent from the off. So,no rotation just for the sake of it.
I agree that Ford is far less dynamic than Cipriani but Cipriani doesn’t play for Bath. That’s the reason he gets the nod,to maintain the connection with Watson and JJ. Up to now you would have to say it’s paying off.
I worry about Vunipola. In the second half he comes to life but seems to need forty to “wake up”.England won’t beat Ireland if they start slowly again and certainly not with 14 men for the first half.
Mixed up dates, was thinking of Scotland. However, if the Ireland games goes agin England I’d throw Cip on sooner rather than when it’s too late. If it goes for England, SL will stick like Bostik to Ford anyway. Fantasising though, Lancs ain’t gonna change Ford unless he get hurt, or maybe if it’s a cricket score for his team.
And rotation should never be for the sake of it though.
Regds Ford’s; ‘Up to now you would have to say it’s paying off’, well, we’ll never know as lancs won’t play Cip. Might have added more?
Regds Vunipola, IMO, he fits the English ‘bosh’ mould. Works @ club level, esp in a dom pack, but is rel ineffective @ top Int’al level. Needs coaching in offloading before or during tackle rather than predictably taking contact ad infinitum. Also with his running lines @ oppo. Should aim @ outside defender, or between 2 defenders, then veer towards the inside man & just before contact, or even during the tackle (freeing his arms), & then offload to a team mate steaming a parallel line out/inside him. And he needs to keep better positional discipline in ‘D’ & trust team mates inside him to make their tackles. Gets sucked in when out of his comfort zone (which is in the thick of it).
This is an area NZ have it over other teams IMO, i.e., passing & offloading. The fwds & backs, as a S15 commentator mentioned last yr, incl fr & 2nd rowers, are interchangeable these days. Retallick, Woodcock (1/2back @ ruck) & Read for instance. Keeping shape & discipline are other areas; e.g., v Ireland, esp @ the death last year.