EDDIE MAY SET HIS LIONS FREE
Jones keeps stars for Argentina clash
EDDIE JONES last night opted to retain 10 Lions in his squad for England’s autumn opener against Argentina on Saturday — despite having suggested many would be rested during this series.
Several months ago, the national coach had appeared intent on managing the work-load of the men who starred in the epic drawn series against the All Blacks at the end of last season.
That may still be the case, but Jones is on course to use most if not all of his available Lions against the visiting Pumas this weekend.
Seven players were last night released back to their clubs: Tom Dunn, Charlie Ewels, Piers Francis, Nick Isiekwe, Zach Mercer, Sam Simmonds and Denny Solomona.
So all the senior players have been retained, including the likes of Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson — starters in all three Lions Tests.
Those are the very men Jones seemed intent on resting when he said in the summer: ‘We will look at these Tests as a continuation of the June series. A number of the Lions guys we probably won’t play. We’ll give them a reconditioning period to get them right for the World Cup.’
Those players were given a lighter training schedule in Portugal last week, but they remain in camp in Bagshot, Surrey, and are poised to play at Twickenham on Saturday.
Jones has recently been more circumspect when asked to clarify selection in relation to his Lions contingent. He has intimated that a plan has long been in place with the clubs, but has gone on to suggest it is still a flexible arrangement.
Despite the current focus on player welfare and injuries, last night’s squad update points towards a revised strategy. Jones could well unleash most, if not all, available firepower in the matches against Argentina and Australia and then send out a reshuffled, experimental team against Samoa on November 25.
However, the picture remains blurred. In training at England’s HQ in Bagshot yesterday, Maro Itoje appeared to take very little part in the session, having missed the headto-head with Wales in Bristol the previous day. Yet he is one of the 26 still in contention to be picked.
Likewise, Farrell was wearing tracksuit trousers while those fully involved in the main element of the session were in shorts, but he remains on site and in contention.
One man seemingly destined to miss out is Jonny May. The prolific Leicester wing, who has scored 10 tries in nine games since his move from Gloucester, did some running drills yesterday but then went back to the indoor centre while his teammates continued to train.
All the signs are that the hamstring strain he suffered in Portugal last week will keep him out of the Argentina clash.
The Pumas will be delighted if Jones does choose to hold back his Lions. Veteran scrum-half Martin Landajo said: ‘That would be much better. Tell them we want them to rest as many as possible!’
Yet the man who troubles Daniel Hourcade’s side the most is not one of those who went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks on behalf of the Lions. Asked to identify the primary English threat, Landajo added: ‘The No 8, Nathan Hughes. He was a ball carrier we struggled to stop in June.’
Argentina face New Zealand every year in the Rugby Championshipp and this will be their fourth encounter unter with England in the space of 12 months. So how do the top two wo in the world rankings compare? ?
‘New Zealand are the best team in the world,’ said Landajo. ‘They are very different. New Zealand play more full rugby and you don’t know what is going to happen.
‘England are very precise, but it’s much easier to analyse. In n Argentina, England attacked a lot and that surprised us. Here,e, if it is wet, maybe they will kickk the ball more.’