Player welfare protocol means Lewis Ludlam can't play for England this Saturday
Player welfare protocol has meant that a fit Lewis Ludlam is unavailable to England this Saturday to help ease their back row injury situation.
Eddie Jones was so short of resources for last Saturday’s second World Cup warm-up match that he was forced to select hooker Jack Singleton as a reserve back row forward for the loss in Cardiff to Wales.
Mark Wilson (rib complaint), Tom Curry (shoulder) and Sam Underhill (ankle) have been injury concerns for England throughout this month, with Curry - who got injured for his troubles in the first Wales match - the only one of the trio to make any Test appearance so far this season.
That casualty list helped catapult Ludlam up the pecking order, making his debut on August 11, earning World Cup squad selection the following day and then getting a second consecutive start against the Welsh last Saturday.
However, England are not able to call on the 23-year-old to face Ireland at Twickenham. He is said to be undergoing a week's active rest as the standard player contract in place for every Premiership Rugby player allows for a five-week break. He is finishing this allowance out, but it has left Jones sweating on the availability of his rehabilitating back rowers.
"Those guys trained, trained well, and we will continue to monitor them as training progresses," said forwards coach Steve Borthwick at a media conference after all three had trained at Pennyhill Park on Wednesday. “We have got tonight and tomorrow morning (Thursday) as well before naming the team.”
England will want all three available to take on Ireland to offset any need to pitch Billy Vunipola into a third Test in as many weeks.
Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes are also further options to slot into the back row should either lock be required to step out to a loose forward role.
Mako Vunipola is expected to feature after recovering from hamstring surgery, with Borthwick admitting the British and Irish Lions prop offers England a significant boost.
WATCH: Jonny May and George Ford set the scene ahead of England's World Cup warm-up match against Ireland
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Great to see the biggest clash between the Boks and ABs. The Boks have a better replacement bench and a developing squad for RWC 2027. The ABs could have won but for poor penalty kicks from DMac and a bad decision from Scott Barrett to kick for touch and not at the poles. Le Roux should be pensioned off and either Fassi or Willemse when fit play fullback. Sacha must not try to be too fancy but has great potential. Pollard is still the best 10. Hopefully Libbok gets his chance to play in Argentina. Etsebeth and Marx enjoyed immense games. The ABs are a work in progress but they require better forward like those of old AB teams.
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Rugby pass seem to have a different scale for each player based on the authors expectations or how much he likes them.
Can't fathom how Moodie and Reece both were a 3.
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