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England receive major Vunipola boost ahead of Wales game
By Online Editors
Mako Vunipola has been included in the England squad for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.
The loosehead was not expected to feature after returning to Tonga for family reasons last week.
Just a few days ago, England head coach Eddie Jones stated that Vunipola would "probably not" be available after a family member was taken seriously ill.
However, Jones has this morning included the 29-year-old in his 34-man squad for the round four game.
Vunipola has only featured once in this year's Six Nations so far, starting in the 13-6 defeat of Scotland at BT Murrayfield.
Anthony Watson also returns having overcome a calf problem.
While there is still no room in Jones' squad for Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds or Ollie Hassell-Collins, the England boss has called up Exeter Chiefs' Jack Maunder as a third No 9.
Billy Vunipola, Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell remain among the players unavailable for Jones this week.
England squad update Wales week:
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks)
Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
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Latest Comments
Very happy man, actually! Did well with Houston in MLR. Back in SA and sharing a lot of good ideas, coming up with a few, and likely to get a good coaching job late this year.
Go to commentsI think the whole utility thing is a bit over done. Yes the bench and squad need some utility players to cover injury, either in game or through a tournament. However the starting XV should be the best in that position. Full stop. Line out jumping hasn't ever been a 7’s job. Tackle, win the ball, support the ball runner, link plays is a 7’s job. That said, I see Peter Lakai as the future and 2 full seasons from RWC’27 the future needs to be playing and gaining those 25-30 caps of experience.
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