Sarries boys fit and ready vows George
JAMIE George insists he is fit and fired up for England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday at Twickenham – despite not playing since December 6.
Saracens’ relegation to the yet-to-start Championship meant a rejig of schedules with George – opting for a bespoke training schedule instead of playing games.
Hooker George managed to fit in a Christmas wedding to long-term partner Katie – but the couple’s honeymoon is on hold.
Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly and George will head to Twickenham without a game under their belts since playing France well before Christmas. Billy Vunipola has played one match – against Ealing Trailfinders.
But George, 30, says the relationship between Saracens staff and Eddie Jones will put him in tip-top shape for the Calcutta Cup.
George said: “When we left in the autumn Eddie said to have a couple of weeks off which we did.
“There is a huge amount of trust between Saracens and Eddie and all the S&C guys. We are really lucky we have Phil Morrow as our head of S&C and performance at Saracens. He has a huge amount of experience of international rugby.
“He headed up Ireland’s programme for a long time and was on the Lions tour in 2017. He knew exactly what he was doing in tailoring a programme for us to make sure that we are in the best possible condition.
“The way we train is above match intensity so I don’t think that is ever going to be an issue.”
George is a certainty for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in the summer if it takes place.
Four years ago he started all three Tests against the All Blacks despite never having been in an England run-on XV and he is eager for another crack in the red shirt.
He added: “I am desperate for it to go ahead. It was probably one of the best experience of my life – not just in rugby.
“Rugby-wise it allowed me to grow into the player I wanted to be and I will always be thankful for that and that is why I am so keen for it to happen in any capacity.
“At that stage of my career back then, not having started for England and starting all three Tests, gave me a huge boost of confidence. Once a Lion always a Lion, you have got to hold yourself accountable in the way you train, the way you play, you are in the spotlight a little bit more on the back of it.”
George was part of the crazy 38-38 draw in 2019 on the last time Scotland visited Twickenham when England managed to blow a 31-0 lead before George Ford’s added time try and a Farrell conversion levelled it up.
He said: “It was madness really. There was frustration on our side in the way we let back-to-back negatives get the better of us but I see that game as a real turning point for us as a leadership group in this team.
“Compare it to the last game of the autumn against France and how we stuck together and won that game, it was a completely different side to what we saw in that mad Scotland game at Twickenham. Hopefully it has been a real turning point for us.”