MARLER OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR WORLD CUP BID
EDDIE JONES last night hailed Joe Marler as ‘one of the best props in the world’ after the Harlequins star came out of retirement to join England’s World Cup training squad. Marler last represented his country on the June 2018 tour to south Africa, before retiring for personal reasons. However, the 28-year-old has now reversed that decision to be included in Jones’ 35-man party. ‘We’ve kept in contact, it’s not a conversation in isolation that led to him coming back,’ said the England head coach of Marler. ‘We’re delighted to have him back and ready to compete. ‘At his best, he’s one of the best props in the world. ‘We saw that, particularly in the third Test against south Africa. That was outstanding. ‘He wants to come back in, he wants to compete, he’s not guaranteed a spot and he’s got plenty of competition. ‘i saw Joe during the Barbarians week and he indicated that he had a desire to come back. ‘We have since had a couple of chats and we have given him the opportunity to do that. now it is up to him to show us what he has got. ‘We can’t wait to have the full squad in place and to have players competing for those 31 places (in the final World Cup squad). it is a process of building the team up, building the cohesion, the tactical understanding of the team and our adaptability. ‘We will need to get those things right to win the World Cup, and that is our aim.’ danny Cipriani has made the cut, with his Gloucester half-back team-mate Willi Heinz also included, but dan Robson and Mike Brown miss out. Harlequins prop Kyle sinckler is back in the squad after a hamstring scare. England are determined not to rule out dylan Hartley, even though the former captain has been omitted from this squad and continues to struggle with knee problems. ENGLAND’S TRAINING SQUAD FOR THE WORLD CUP THIS AUTUMN — Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), T Curry (Sale), C Ewels (Bath), E Genge (Leicester), J George, M Itoje (both Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), L Ludlam (Northampton Saints), J Marler (Harlequins), B Moon (Exeter), B Shields (Wasps), K Sinckler (Harlequins), J Singleton (Saracens), S Underhill (Bath), B Vunipola (Saracens), H Williams (Exeter), M Wilson (Sale).
Backs: D Cipriani (Gloucester), J Cokanasiga (Bath), E Daly, O Farrell (both Saracens), G Ford (Leicester), P Francis (Northampton), W Heinz (Gloucester), J Joseph (Bath), J May (Leicester), R McConnochie (Bath), H Slade (Exeter), B Spencer (Saracens), B Te’o (unattached), M Tuilagi (Leicester), A Watson (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester).
In camp for rehabilitation: G Kruis (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter), M Vunipola (Saracens).