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Feyi-Waboso missing as England make two training squad changes
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has named his latest 36-man England training squad, making two changes from the group that came together at Pennyhill Park on February 18 to prepare for the Guinness Six Nations round three trip to Scotland.
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That fixture became a nightmare for the English as they surrendered an early 10-point lead to abjectly lose 21-30.
Having had a few days’ break since that Scottish Gas Murrayfield defeat, Borthwick has now updated his options for the fallow week training camp that will include an open training session in York on Friday.
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Tom Pearson, a try-scorer in the England A rout of an understrength Portugal last Sunday at Leicester, will take over from fellow back-rower Ben Curry, who was injured at senior training last week.
Meanwhile, there is an eye-catching omission in the back line – but England fans need not worry with the March 9 round four game at home to Ireland in mind.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who scored off the bench in Edinburgh and was name-checked post-game by Scotland boss Gregor Townsend as being a major threat, has been omitted from the training squad.
The explanation for the absence of the 21-year-old Exeter winger has nothing to do with injury or form. It’s that rather than attend this week’s training camp, he is instead doing a medical exam at Exeter University that he has to do in person.
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His place in this week’s squad has gone to Will Muir, another who started for England A at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Aside from the 36 officially named for Borthwick’s latest gathering, injured half-backs Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell will also join up with the group to continue their respective rehabilitations.
England training squad
Forwards (20):
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs (16):
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
- Marcus Smith (Harlequins) and Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints) will join up with the squad to continue their rehabilitation from injury.
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Four 10s ? Would love to see some wings that scare the opposition! Don’t think England scare anyone at the moment.
Randall has come of age. He looks the business this season. Would like to see him on the bench to add some impact of required.