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Bath and England wings nearing return as season winds down and RWC looms

Anthony Watson and Semesa Rokoduguni could both return for Bath this week after length injury layoffs. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
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Bath‘s up and down season has not been helped by injuries to key men in their back line, with British and Irish Lion Anthony Watson and England international Semesa Rokoduguni both on the treatment table of late.

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Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon against Ireland in the 2018 Guinness Six Nations, before re-tearing it later in the year, meaning that he has missed the entire 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season so far. As for Rokoduguni, he injured his knee ligaments in Bath’s 30-13 win over Newcastle Falcons back in February.

In their absences, both Joe Cokanasiga and Ruaridh McConnochie have shone, with Cokanasiga picking up four England caps and McConnochie going from strength to strength after transitioning over from the seven-a-side format.

According to SomersetLive, however, both Watson and Rokoduguni are in the frame for selection this week, when Bath take on Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday evening.

Both players will be keen to make up for lost time, but with Elliot Daly having taken hold of the England 15 jersey and Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Chris Ashton and Cokanasiga all impressing on the wing at different points during this season, Watson faces a race against time to get fully fit and show Eddie Jones his value to the squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.

In addition to the trip to Sale on Friday, Bath host Wasps and visit Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers in May, with those 240 minutes of rugby all that remains in Bath’s 2018/19 season.

Prior to the injury he suffered against Ireland, Watson had been a regular in the England XV, including playing three of his six most recent internationals at full-back, as well as starting all three Tests for the British and Irish Lions during their 2017 tour of New Zealand.

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That versatility to cover across the entire back three could well help him make up for time this summer, with warm-up games against Wales, home and away, Ireland and Italy also providing an opportunity for Watson to prove his fitness and form ahead of the RWC.

Watch: Munster have issued a statement on the incident involving Billy Vunipola in the Champions Cup semi-final

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Phantom 34 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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