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England receive major Vunipola boost ahead of Wales game

02 Mar 2020

Mako Vunipola during England training (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mako Vunipola has been included in the England squad for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.

The loosehead was not expected to feature after returning to Tonga for family reasons last week.

Just a few days ago, England head coach Eddie Jones stated that Vunipola would “probably not” be available after a family member was taken seriously ill.

However, Jones has this morning included the 29-year-old in his 34-man squad for the round four game.

BREAKING https://t.co/hDWSUyuawB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020

Vunipola has only featured once in this year’s Six Nations so far, starting in the 13-6 defeat of Scotland at BT Murrayfield.

Anthony Watson also returns having overcome a calf problem.

While there is still no room in Jones’ squad for Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds or Ollie Hassell-Collins, the England boss has called up Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Maunder as a third No 9.

Billy Vunipola, Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell remain among the players unavailable for Jones this week.

England squad update Wales week:

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

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)
Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

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Comments on RugbyPass

IkeaBoy 11 minutes ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

There’s always next week…

11 Go to comments

MT 20 minutes ago

Pete Wilkins joins URC rivals after Connacht exit

Wow Connacht job is a hard one, they need better funds from IRFU, or do what FIR rugby are doing and allow private consortium or backers to run Connacht

1 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 21 minutes ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

You’re absolutely correct ike but you were the one on here shouting about your winnings and conquests last week! So I guess that’s a no then…🤣

11 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 24 minutes ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

That’s not the sort of question a gentleman answers, Edward.

11 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 26 minutes ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

You’d have to ask him, Ed.

A years salary for 5 months work would still likely sway him. Free board and the use of a hatchback.

Conan took over the captaincy when he came on. Indeed, why would he need to be told to do the blindingly obvious.

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Solenn Bonnet 29 minutes ago

Bristol put weakened Bath to the sword in yellow card frenzy in Cardiff

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Solenn Bonnet 30 minutes ago

Bulls win leaves Cardiff on shaky ground in play-offs pursuit

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Solenn Bonnet 31 minutes ago

Bulls win leaves Cardiff on shaky ground in play-offs pursuit

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RedWarriors 32 minutes ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

Great club player and servant of Munster. I am more critical of his latter International career which lasted way to long. An example being his 100th cap versus Scotland in the RWC 2023. He said afterwards that the landmark was used as motivation for the huge performance against Scotland. I am sure Ian Foster and NZ were cheering that along: the huge performance should have been saved for 7 days later.

Just sometimes slacking the wider view. He has been on borrowed time in his International career for half a decade.

2 Go to comments

gs 41 minutes ago

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I’m allowed one, risqué ‘f’ word per article so I went with ‘foreplay’ instead; not that I’ve any idea what it means. 🙄

2 Go to comments

PR 41 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Still, given where Ireland have been in the world rankings the last few years, hanging on for victory in Rome signals a considerable slide in form I would say.

143 Go to comments

PR 45 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

And yet they couldn’t make it past their own World Cup quarter-final with that “generational talent” and the bulk of the players they have now. Whenever the Boks and All Blacks don’t play Tests for a while, the NH seem to suffer from collective amnesia. This France squad lost to England this year so to claim that they are somehow now the best in the world is just wishful thinking. Just because they pumped a poor Irish team does not suddenly make them world leaders.

And “Best athletes in the world”?! 😂 Like Uini Atonio that walks from ruck to ruck? No greater athlete in the game than PSDT while Wallace Sititi has more power, pace and skill than any French forward. Also, Kolbe and Arendse schooled Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarre the last time they played.

“They’ve taken the Boks 7:1 split to new heights.” Against who? Not the Boks. That will be the true test. Until then - they’re a good side, not the best in the world.

143 Go to comments

RedWarriors 46 minutes ago

How the Scarlets reacted to first win on SA soil of URC era

It is a massive massive win for Scarlets coupled with downing Leinster two weeks ago.

They are in 6th so need to lose 3 places on the final weekend now.

I believe that 3rd place in the table might mean a potential home country semi against Bulls, rather than a potential semi in Dublin should Leinster be still in the competition. Sharks would fancy a SA based semi and then a once off smash and grab job in Dublin. Having to beat Leinster in Dublin and then rise a week later to win a final would be a major order. Ask Bulls last year, after their great performance against Leinster was not backed up 7 days later. So Sharks are likely to be very motivated to beat Scarlets.

Munster-Benneton play each other so one of this will not pass out Scarlets leaving both Edinburgh and Cardiff as the remaining two needed to pass Scarlets.

Cardiff play Stormers who will finish in top 8 but might want to finish as high as possible for a more favourable draw. Edinburgh play at home to Ulster who are out and should prevail leaving Cardiff as the final team. Between Cardiff and Scarlets.

The Munster - Benneton match is knock out. Lose and you are out although a bonus point draw might see both through.

If Munster lose that would see only one Irish team qualify!

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IkeaBoy 49 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

His best years are behind him. Furlong too.

143 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 50 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Sexton didn’t tour either. 3 games that called out for a bit of old school game management.

I’d say that Leo’s coaching wasn’t responsible rather than he wasn’t responsible for coaching.

He was the man when they went 0/3 in finals. Damaged that squad.