England centre Lawrence battling to be match for World Cup warm-ups
O
llie Lawrence and Jack Walker face a race towards time to be prepared for England’s World Cup warm-up matches after struggling minor accidents in coaching.
Bath powerhouse Lawrence has picked up a knee difficulty and Harlequins hooker Walker a calf criticism.
Lawrence and Walker have linked up with the England coaching camp that has moved to Brighton this week, for rehabilitation.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has prolonged his coaching ranks to 38, making the most of the provision of gamers from Northampton and Leicester after the top of the Premiership semi-finalists‘ rest period.
Leicester-bound wing Ollie Hassell-Collins and scrum-half pair Harry Randall and Ben Spencer have been omitted from the training squad after being included in last week’s gathering at Pennyhill Park.
The availability of Saints and Tigers gamers means scrum-halves Alex Mitchell, Ben Youngs and Jack van Poortvliet have all joined the squad, with Harlequins’ Danny Care additionally retained.
Bath centre Lawrence and Quins hooker Walker each boosted their England standing throughout the Six Nations below Borthwick, with the pair growing into necessary Test choices.
England are understood to hope to see each males again in coaching by the top of July, which might tee up an opportunity to characteristic within the 4 World Cup warm-up matches in August.
“After an excellent first week’s training we are very much looking forward to being in Brighton,” mentioned Borthwick.
“We’re pleased to welcome players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers who can now start to integrate themselves into the group, and we look forward to players from Sale Sharks and Saracens joining us in a fortnight.
“The first phase of our preparation continues to focus on ensuring the players are physically equipped for what we need to do in a World Cup campaign. That means the training will be tough and purposeful. The players are rising to the challenge.
“We’ll work hard again this week, and we’ll enjoy some time together off the field too, which is also an important part of our preparation.”
Leicester’s Dan Cole and Joe Heyes swell the ranks at prop, with Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and David Ribbans including back-five Saints beef.
Tigers lock George Martin has an opportunity to impress after a advantageous season at Welford Road, whereas Saints backline trio Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman and Fin Smith all be a part of the squad.
Leicester centre Guy Porter will get the nod to bolster the midfield choices, with full-back Freddie Steward and wing Anthony Watson nailed-on additions.
Billy Vunipola, Ollie Chessum and Luke Cowan-Dickie are all staying with the England camp to proceed damage rehab.
England’s 38-player coaching squad
Forwards: J Blamire (Newcastle), D Cole (Leicester), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), T Dunn, C Ewels (each Bath), E Genge (Bristol), J Heyes (Leicester), T Hill (Bath), C Lawes, L Ludlam (each Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), G Martin (Leicester), Z Mercer (Montpellier), B Obano (Bath), T Pearson (London Irish), V Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester), D Ribbans (Northampton), Ok Sinckler (Bristol), W Stuart, S Underhill (each Bath).
Backs: H Arundell (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins), J Cokanasiga (Bath), F Dingwall, T Freeman (each Northampton), W Joseph (London Irish), J Marchant (Harlequins), J May (Gloucester), A Mitchell (Northampton), C Murley (Harlequins), G Porter (Leicester), H Slade (Exeter), F Smith (Northampton), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward, J Van Poortvliet, A Watson, B Youngs (all Leicester).