Launchbury is all set to play full part for England

ENGLAND lock Joe Launchbury has been given a clean bill of health here in Japan, after alarm was raised over a back injury sustained during last Friday’s Rugby World Cup send-off.

Italy were thumped 37-0 at St James’ Park, Newcastle, but Launchbury’s first-half exit took the shine off the third victory of the summer’s four warm-up Tests.

However, England forwards coach Steve Borthwick has insisted the Wasps captain will be ready for the World Cup opener against Tonga on September 22.

“Joe Launchbury came off with a back injury but there’s nothing concerning there. Joe will recover from the flight and will be good to go,” Borthwick said yesterday.

Mako Vunipola (hamstring injury) and Jack Nowell (ankle) are on schedule to play in the key pool games against Argentina and France, while Nowell’s Exeter Chiefs club-mate Henry Slade (knee) could face Tonga.

England’s first full day at their training camp in Miyazaki was partially taken up by a community visit to a local high school. Hundreds of children watched as fly-half George Ford exchanged passes with the captain of the school team, before gifts were exchanged and Borthwick gave a short speech in Japanese.

“I said it’s great to be here in Japan and we’ll do our very best at the World Cup. I thanked them for their support,” Borthwick said.

“The players are enjoying it. It’s a great training camp here in Miyazaki. I know that from my previous experience, coaching with Japan at the last World Cup. You couldn’t have asked for better facilities and the players have enjoyed how we’ve started.

“The first period of time will be spent recovering from the journey [last Sunday], because there’s the jet-lag factor. Then we’ll have another push in terms of our fitness. We’ll focus on our conditioning for the next couple of games. There are a few days here that give us a really good opportunity to do some work.”