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Watson and Cowan-Dickie back from injury as Jones names 35-man England squad ahead of trip to Wales
By PA
Bath back Anthony Watson and Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie have been recalled to the England squad ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup clash against Wales. Neither player has so far featured in the tournament, but Watson has overcome an ankle problem and Cowan-Dickie returned to action following minor knee surgery when Exeter beat Harlequins on Friday evening.
Northampton full-back George Furbank and Wasps fly-half Jacob Umaga, meanwhile, are both injured and not included in a 35-man group squad announced by the Rugby Football Union.
England are chasing a seventh successive victory, and need only a point against Wales to win Pool A and secure a Nations Cup final place – probably against France – on Saturday week.
Eddie Jones’ side beat Wales 33-30 when the countries last met in the Six Nations eight months ago.
But while Jones’ team have continued their winning ways since then, Wales have struggled.
Their victory over Georgia on Saturday ended a six-match losing run under head coach Wayne Pivac, yet Wales have only beaten England twice from the last eight attempts.
FULL SQUAD
Backs
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 3 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 71 caps)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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