Fitness boost as Genge recovers from ankle scare

FORWARDS Maro Itoje and Dylan Hartley will join up with the England squad to continue their rehabilitation from injury ahead of the potential Six Nations title decider against Wales on Saturday.

Lock Itoje and prop Hartley have not been named among the 25-strong group selected by Eddie Jones for England’s three-day training camp in London, but will be on location recovering from knee and ankle injuries.

With prop Mako Vunipola ruled out for the remainder of the tournament, Jones has included Exeter Chiefs’ Ben Moon with Leicester’s Ellis Genge providing additional cover at loosehead.

Genge, 23, withdrew from an England training session on Thursday because of an ankle injury but scrum coach Neal Hatley allayed fears he would miss the Cardiff clash.

“Ellis went fully at it today,” said assistant coach Neal Hatley on Friday. “Live set piece, live scrums. He trained and did the whole session. He’s responded unbelievably well to treatment and charged through training.”

Four players – Dan Cole (Leicester), Dan Robson (Wasps), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath) and Mike Brown (Harlequins) – were released to play for their clubs over the weekend.

Prop Cole, who is the only one to be have been involved in both of England’s Six Nations games so far, started against Saracens while scrum-half Robson, who won his first cap against France, played for Wasps against Bristol on Friday.

Cokanasiga took the field against Newcastle and Brown started for Quins against Worcester. Jones will update his squad next week before naming his starting XV on February 21.