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Jones explains why he didn't call-up Cipriani
By Online Editors
Eddie Jones says he didn't feel the need to call-up out-of-favour Gloucester flyhalf Danny Cipriani as he simply wasn't needed.
Owen Farrell underwent a ‘minor’ operation on his thumb. According to Mark McCall speaking last week, the pivot's recovery time is 7 to 10 days, putting into doubt his participation in his team’s opening match against Ireland in Dublin.
The England star is set to captain his country in this year’s competition in the absence of Dylan Hartley.
"We are well stocked at number 10," Jones told reporters at the Six Nations launch in London today. Jones said he was confident that Farrell would be good to go and that a replacement just wasn't needed.
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“I’m confident Owen is going to play. We have got George Ford so we are well-stocked at number 10.”
Farrell who was sitting beside him, also said he was confident that he will return in time for the Ireland match on February 2nd.
“It is good. I should be training towards the end of this week and I am confident I will be able to play against Ireland.”
Jones claims that he isn't looking ahead to the Rugby World Cup.
"Ireland is our number one priority," said Jones, when asked about the World Cup at the end of the year.
"In November we were down to our sixth choice loosehead prop," said Jones. “If we were to train, we would have 34 out of 36 available so a couple of them will be missing."
“The only thing we can do is prepare well, be 100 percent committed, and we will take it from there,” said former Australia and Japan coach Jones.
“Whether it is the biggest game of the tournament or not, it doesn’t really matter. Our job is to prepare well.”
The squad will travel t0 Portugal today to begin their preparations. A squad of 25 players will depart for Dublin on Thursday 31 January.
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Latest Comments
Come on, RugbyPass. You let a notorious homer grade his own beloved team?
Anyway. I rate Barrett, and I’m one of those who think no one else but him and Mo’unga should have ever dressed the ABs’ 10 jersey as long as both are still active, but he wasn’t a 9.5. Barrett is the best game controller of all contemporary ABs’ first fives. Kiwi fans are obsessed with ball running 10s and many don’t realize, that there are other boxes a “first five” needs to tick, than instinctive genius attacking rugby. The DMac lovers don’t seem to notice, that his poor tactical decisions costed ABs some games this year, granting tries to both Pumas and Springboks. As for BB, just review the miniseries against England earlier this year. In one of the games, Barrett came on the field, and literally turned the tables by putting immense pressure on the English through clever kicking. It’s not sexy, but it wins games and championships. Ask Handré Pollard, who started his international career as a ball running 10/12, and then turned himself into a game controller.
Anyway x2. 10 is a perfect performance, that couldn’t have been better. 10 is Dusautoir in the 2011 RWC finals. Barrett wasn’t next door to a performance, that couldn’t have been better as much as I rate him.
Go to commentsToo many boks held up in when touching down - Siya and Fassi should've scored
At least the line-out is getting better. A good tour but a soft finish in H2 in this game I think
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