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Jones: 'Mako definitely won't be ready for the start of RWC'
By Chris Jones
Eddie Jones has confirmed that Mako Vunipola will miss at least the first two of England’s World Cup pool matches with a recurrence of the hamstring injury he first suffered in the Heineken Cup final last May with Saracens.
However, head coach Jones is adamant the loosehead will be a key member of the squad and can still make a significant contribution - even though the earliest that is likely to be is the third pool match with Argentina on October 5 followed by the group finale versus France.
Confirmation that Vunipola will miss the early games with Tonga and the USA will leave Joe Marler as the first choice loosehead with Ellis Genge, a try scorer in Friday’s 37-0 win over Italy in Newcastle, providing cover off the bench.
Injured in the August 24 rout of Ireland at Twickenham, the initial diagnosis on Vunipola was that a 10-day break would ensure he was ready for Japan. However, that situation has now been updated and his absence for the early weeks is a significant blow to the England cause.
Jones said: “Mako definitely won’t be ready for the start but we believe he will be ready for game three or four of the pool stage.
“Mako is a very important player for us and we feel he is going to be ready to contribute in the World Cup. We are carrying two looseheads who are in great form, but we are confident that Mako will make a great contribution.
"Jack (Nowell) in the last couple of days has taken off and we have had to hold him back, but he should be right again around the same time as Mako.”
England lost Joe Launchbury and Luke Cowan-Dickie to injury against Italians in Newcastle, but Jones insisted they were not major worries and added that Kyle Sinckler was only taken off as a precaution.
Launchbury has a back problem and will be monitored along with Cowan-Dickie before England depart on Sunday for Japan.
Jones insisted the win over Italy, which completed a four-match World Cup warm-up programme, was a worthwhile exercise although England had to wait until the second half to pull away from a combative Italian side that lacked a real cutting edge.
WATCH: The trailer for the new RugbyPass documentary featuring Tonga, England's opponents in their World Cup campaign opener in Sapporo on September 22
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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