McCall issues Itoje update and tips Saracens trio for England recall
Saracens boss Mark McCall says he will be “amazed” if a trio of his star players are overlooked by England head coach Eddie Jones for a second time this season.
Jamie George, Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola were left out of Jones’ training squad last month.
Jones names his group for the Autumn Nations Series on Monday – England face appointments with Tonga, Australia and South Africa – and it will come on the back of Saracens routing Gallagher Premiership opponents Bath 71-17.
Hooker George scored two of Saracens’ 10 tries, while the Vunipola brothers were also prominent in a ruthless dismantling of the west country club.
Their England colleague Maro Itoje, meanwhile, was on the scoresheet as he made his first Premiership start since October last year, although he went off early in the second half after taking a blow to his shoulder as Jones watched from the Recreation Ground stands.
On Itoje, McCall said: “I am not sure if Maro is a shoulder or a pec. We are just trying to find out how serious it is.”
Bath’s England wing Anthony Watson also exited early, and Bath rugby director Stuart Hooper said: “It’s definitely his knee, but I don’t think it is too bad. I think he is all right.”
Saracens racked up a remarkable 45 points in the first half through George’s double, another two from wing Max Malins and one each by Itoje and flanker Ben Earl.
Substitute prop Eroni Mawi added a seventh Saracens try, Malins completed his hat-trick and Rotimi Segun and Dom Morris also scored, while skipper Owen Farrell booted eight conversions and a penalty for a 19-point haul and Alex Goode kicked a late conversion.
'It is certainly not a time I look back on fondly'
After a 6-day retirement in May 2020, Tim Swinson is now in his 2nd season at @Saracens He talks to @heagneyl ??? about a year that has seen the Scot go from Barbarians villain to resurgent secondrow forcehttps://t.co/3aA0EgBRmQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2021
Full-back Tom de Glanville, back-row forward Tom Ellis and wing Will Muir claimed Bath consolation scores, and Danny Cipriani added one conversion, but it was a horrible afternoon for the west country club.
Asked would he be surprised if the trio did not make the squad, McCall added: “Amazed. Everybody would be with the way they played today.
“If Eddie wanted to see if they had the motivation and desire to still play for England, then they showed that today. I thought Owen (Farrell) was brilliant today as well.
“I thought Billy was unreal. Mako as well. The two of them were to the fore in the defensive sets.
“There is a new squad tomorrow, and I expect to have a lot more players back in it. They deserve to be there after the way they played today.
Something in the water? ?https://t.co/zfgfw0HkJl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2021
“It was how physical, confrontational we were, dominating the gain-line. We’ve got players who can make things happen.”
It was the most points Bath have conceded in a Premiership game, and a fourth successive defeat represents their worst start to a league season for 20 years.
Hooper said: “It’s as bad as it gets, what we’ve seen there today, and our responsibility is to stand up and be counted.
“It is too easy to turn your back and have a conversation in the corridor. Let’s front it up.
“It’s gone really badly today. That pain we feel right now, we need to feel it. I don’t believe you can just forget about it.
Saracens put Bath to the sword at The Rec but Eddie Jones and England face an anxious wait over the fitness of two Lions. #BATvSARhttps://t.co/ummR2EwMyI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2021
“My motivation for this job has always been the same, and it’s about this great club, supporters and the players.
“There will be questions from everywhere about me, my players and my staff, but the important thing is we keep looking each other in the eye and feel this pain together, then move on.
“Saracens are a quality team. They were absolutely red-hot today, and they steamrollered us. They were hot today, and we were spectacularly poor.
“Nobody woke up this morning and wanted to see that or deliver that. It’s a tough situation, and it hurts. Professional sport at times is amazing, and at times it’s brutal.”
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments