Team news for Ireland.

[twitchy]

Sky are reporting that slade and manu are back in full training.

[jngf]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

[Oakboy]

Sky are reporting that slade and manu are back in full training.

Fully fit, both would start for me. The implications of their selection though . . . Let's face it, Jones will not choose a starting XV without Farrell and one of Youngs/Heinz.

[Puja]

Sky are reporting that slade and manu are back in full training.

BBC are reporting that they're with the squad as part of their injury rehabilitation.

Puja

[Danno]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

[Digby]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

[Spiffy]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

Spot on. Itoje is already doing more than enough of his share to shore up the team.
He and May are the only world-class players in the current squad.

[Digby]

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

Spot on. Itoje is already doing more than enough of his share to shore up the team.
He and May are the only world-class players in the current squad.

And given a choice between some improvement to an already decent carrying game and cutting out some of the airhead pens I'd opt for cutting the needless pens

[Oakboy]

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

Spot on. Itoje is already doing more than enough of his share to shore up the team.
He and May are the only world-class players in the current squad.

Don't disagree with that assessment except that Daly WAS a world class winger till Jones buggered him about.

[fivepointer]

England men's head coach Eddie Jones has recalled 25 players for three days of training in central London this week.
The squad will train together ahead of England’s next Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 23rd February (KO 3pm).

In addition, Cameron Redpath will join the squad for training purposes this week while Courtney Lawes is rested. Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi will be in camp for rehabilitation.

Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
Owen Farrell (Saracens
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

[twitchy]

So does rehab mean they are definitely still out?

[Scrumhead]

England men's head coach Eddie Jones has recalled 25 players for three days of training in central London this week.
The squad will train together ahead of England’s next Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 23rd February (KO 3pm).

In addition, Cameron Redpath will join the squad for training purposes this week while Courtney Lawes is rested. Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi will be in camp for rehabilitation.

Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
Owen Farrell (Saracens
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Hmm - I thought Watson was due back?

[Digby]

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

Spot on. Itoje is already doing more than enough of his share to shore up the team.
He and May are the only world-class players in the current squad.

Don't disagree with that assessment except that Daly WAS a world class winger till Jones buggered him about.

If Daly is/was world class that standard would see a number of other players included. Either way there aren't many better loose heads around than Mako

[Which Tyler]

Hmm - I thought Watson was due back?

Last I heard it was "due back before the end of the 6N" but rehabbing up at Bath Uni as of a couple of days ago.
Of course, it's also possible that he IS due back, and better to get some game time at club level, than training at national.

ETA: yeah, "at some point", and sounding unlikely to be ready yet: https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/ot ... ay-3837005

[Banquo]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

That's been true since he first emerged. Its one of the many reasons why I'm baffled you suggested him as an 8.

[Banquo]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

This isn't exactly news, my dude.

Also how much more work are we expecting Itoje can get through?

agreed, but improving his body position isn't more work necessarily.

[jngf]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

That's been true since he first emerged. Its one of the many reasons why I'm baffled you suggested him as an 8.

If he can manfully lunge forward a bit whilst running flat out with the ball he’s almost there!

[fivepointer]

Centre Manu Tuilagi is available for England's Six Nations match against Ireland after recovering from a groin injury, says head coach Eddie Jones.

Jones also said Exeter centre Henry Slade had completed his first running session since fracturing his ankle and that England are awaiting medical reports to assess his progress.

Bath full-back Anthony Watson remains unavailable with a calf injury.

[Mikey Brown]

Also really want to see Itoje impose himself more as a carrier than in the 2 matches to date. He’s got the size,strength but needs to work on a more explosive, less upright, body position. If he could really bring on his carrying game, we’d be in a better place!

That's been true since he first emerged. Its one of the many reasons why I'm baffled you suggested him as an 8.

If he can manfully lunge forward a bit whilst running flat out with the ball he’s almost there!

Have you ever considered coaching?

[jngf]

On another tack - could Slade do a job at 12?

[Banquo]

On another tack - could Slade do a job at 12?

Yes. and likely should have been doing it for years

[Puja]

On another tack - could Slade do a job at 12?

Yes. and likely should have been doing it for years

While not quite as outré as Itoje or Curry at 8, it is the same principle - square peg for round hole that it never normally fills, on the basis that you think he's potentially got the skills for it, albeit very much unproven.

Puja

[jngf]

On another tack - could Slade do a job at 12?

Yes. and likely should have been doing it for years

While not quite as outré as Itoje or Curry at 8, it is the same principle - square peg for round hole that it never normally fills, on the basis that you think he's potentially got the skills for it, albeit very much unproven.

Puja

A step up on Farrell then

[Banquo]

On another tack - could Slade do a job at 12?

Yes. and likely should have been doing it for years

While not quite as outré as Itoje or Curry at 8, it is the same principle - square peg for round hole that it never normally fills, on the basis that you think he's potentially got the skills for it, albeit very much unproven.

Puja

Nowhere near, and he has actually played there, as well as 10. He fulfils the role of a 2nd 5/8th often at Chiefs too. I agree that lobbing him there for England is about the same as putting Manu at 12....... You have identified the core issue though- my point is that should have been his position from the start

[Timbo]

I think you could move Slade to 12 and he’d not skip a beat, especially with Manu at 13.