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Ollie Lawrence out of match vs Wales as Jones makes 4 changes to England squad of 25
England will finish their Autumn Nations Cup pool campaign without Ollie Lawrence after the Worcester centre was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Wales because of a hip injury.
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Lawrence played 69 minutes of last weekend’s 18-7 victory over Ireland but he has since been troubled by the issue to his joint and he has been rested for the climax to Group A.
The 21-year completed his debut in the Six Nations title-clinching win against Italy at the start of the autumn and has made successive starts at outside centre since.
Lawrence has made an encouraging start to his international career and was given his most prominent role yet when Ireland were toppled at Twickenham.
In the injury-enforced absence of Manu Tuilagi, England have been looking to Lawrence to make hard yards in midfield but the experiment will come to a halt in Llanelli.
6?? caps, 0?? starts ???????#AutumnNationsCuphttps://t.co/FiNu3Jqae2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 24, 2020
“Ollie has a little niggle around his abductor and hip area, nothing major but it is a niggle that is concerning him,” defence coach John Mitchell said. “Ollie has huge potential as a centre. He is very talented in terms of running onto the ball and he has got exceptional ability to line break.”
Ten of last week’s eleven backs have been retained for the game in Wales, Lawrence and Ollie Thorley stepping away while fit-again Anthony Watson is retained.
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In the now 15-strong pack of forwards available, one more than last week, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler and Jack Willis are all included this week with Tom Dunn and Lewis Ludlam missing out.
ENGLAND SQUAD (vs Wales)
Backs (10): Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps), George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps), Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 2 caps), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps), Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps);
Forwards (15): Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps), Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps), Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 71 caps), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps), Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap).
"The back row, Underhill and Curry, what did they make, 7,400 tackles or something between them? It's just madness"
– Last weekend's action didn't have the @TheRugbyPod jumping from its seat #AutumnNationsCuphttps://t.co/368188OPty
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 24, 2020
