Vunipola and Kruis expect to be fit for World Cup
England have been handed a major World Cup boost with two of their key players, Mako Vunipola and George Kruis, expected to be fit for the start of the tournament in Japan in September.
Brad Shields is also on course to be available although the Wasps flanker may miss all four warm-up matches after England assistant coach John Mitchell confirmed he would be sidelined for up to six weeks because of the foot injury he suffered at a training camp in Italy last week.
With Jack Nowell also expected to be fit following ankle surgery, England head coach Eddie Jones looks set to travel to Japan with only Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley not considered for his 31-man squad, because of a knee injury. Jones is due to name his squad on Aug 12, but with England’s first game of the tournament not until Sept 22, it seems that Vunipola, Kruis, Shields and Nowell will be included. Kruis is already back in training this week.
“Obviously we have got a deadline, and that is important,” said Mitchell. “But there is plenty of time to go and no major concerns.
“George is back in training, which has been really good for him. The medical team have done a great job on his progressive return and he’s back in filled with enthusiasm and looking great. Mako’s progressing nicely so we should see him back at some point in August. Jack’s going really well. He’s just returned for a routine surgical review so it’s something that was in his programme which happens with surgical situations. Brad has got a tear in the lower foot.
It’s always a little bit niggly – and it’s four to six weeks for him – but we will continue to appraise his recovery.”
Danny Cipriani and Ben Moon appear to be struggling to make the cut having been left at home for the “heat” camp in Treviso, at which England have taken part in set-piece sessions against Italy which Mitchell said had been “invaluable”. Mitchell said, however, it was critical that those players who did not make the original selection kept themselves ready, in the event of injuries. Stephen Donald ended up kicking New Zealand to their 2011 World Cup final triumph despite starting the tournament as fourth choice. “If you look at the history of recent World Cups some positions have gone four or five deep on some occasions. Everyone has to be ready regardless of what position they are in,” Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in now or you’re out preparing – you need to be ready. Danny is no different.”
The England squad have undergone a punishing conditioning schedule in 90 per cent humidity.
“The heat isn’t so bad, but the variance in the humidity means it takes a while to adapt,” he added. “We have had some humidity ranging between 75 and 90 per cent, which makes you sweat.
“It’s certainly asking good questions and greater demands on people’s work-rate off the ball and the little things that are unseen when you’re challenged by heat and fatigue, so everyone’s working very hard. It’s asking a lot of questions mentally and physically, which is what we want.”