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Kyle Sinckler , Jonny May and Owen Farrell all played a reduced role in training on Wednesday ahead of the Rugby World Cup final as England continue to manage their recovery from injury.
Farrell was all smiles as the England squad took to the field at their training complex next to the Tokyo Stadium, though the captain was put through an individual session along with May as the pair look to recover from dead legs suffered in the 19-7 victory over New Zealand last weekend.
Sinckler meanwhile trained away from the main group in low-intensity session, having suffered from a calf muscle injury in the wake of the semi-final triumph.
England head coach Eddie Jones opted against flying emergency cover from England out to Japan for the trio, despite doing so with Ben Spencer after Willi Heinz was struck down with a hamstring injury that subsequently forced him to withdraw from the 31-man squad ahead of the final.
Had there been a big concern over Sinckler, England would likely have called up Exeter’s Harry Williams as cover given there are only two tighthead props in the squad, and the reluctance to do so suggests that the Harlequins forward should recover in time to feature against South Africa, with Joe Marler remaining emergency tighthead cover.
Show all 24 1 /24Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team England vs New Zealand Here's the team Eddie Jones should select for the Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 1. Mako Vunipola After coming through his first start in five months last weekend with flying colours, Eddie Jones knows he has one of his genuine world class players to call upon from the start. Vunipola completely changes the way that England’s pack are able to impose themselves on the opposition, which enables the likes of Billy Vunipola and Manu Tuilagi to reap the benefits.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 2. Jamie George Has a point to prove after the criticism he received following his struggles against the All Blacks last November. England’s lineout has been lauded by this correspondent as currently the best in the world – now it’s time for them to prove it.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 3. Kyle Sinckler His excellent display against Australia felt like a breakout performance that will have filled him with confidence ahead of what will be the biggest game of his career since the Lions tour. Sinckler is proving one of the gems in the pack that is proving his class by the minute.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 4. Maro Itoje If New Zealand could have one player from the England side in their squad, it would be Itoje. The dynamic forward has been one of England’s most consistent performers in Japan and has led their turnover charts, proving what a thorn he is in the backside of opponents.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 5. George Kruis He has swapped places with Courtney Lawes throughout the tournament and I’d expect no different for this occasion, given the emphasis that Eddie Jones has put on the lineout. Kruis also brings extra bulk in the carrying department.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 6. Tom Curry Man of the match against Australia at the age of 21, Curry now has a target on his back that the Kiwis will have spotted. His place could have been at risk in order to play Courtney Lawes to strengthen the lineout, but breaking up the ‘Undercurry’ duo would be a travesty.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 7. Sam Underhill The second part of England’s dynamic flank duo, Underhill has proven worth his weight in gold in Japan, having formed a back-row of the likes that England have never seen before.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 8. Billy Vunipola With fitness concerns and burnout fears done and dusted, Vunipola is the easy choice at No 8.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 9. Ben Youngs One of the survivors of the victorious 2012 team, Youngs has had a good World Cup up until now, but he will need to be at his very best to outshine opposite number Aaron Smith.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 10. George Ford A surprise choice, but one that makes sense. New Zealand lack a big ball-carrier in the centre unless they select Sonny Bill Williams, which given how Steve Hansen has gone this tour looks unlikely. In which case, England need the creativity that Ford and Farrell bring together.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 11. Jonny May There’s a big concern over his hamstring, but if’s he’s close to fully fit May is worth the gamble. He proved his lethal finishing ability against the Wallabies, and the All Blacks know what he can do given his famous try at Twickenham in 2014.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 12. Owen Farrell The move to inside centre would be a surprise, but Farrell appeared to regain his confidence last weekend as displayed by his 100 per cent kicking ability. His appearance in this week’s press conference said as much, and it’s worth remembering that he and Ford know what to do together.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 13. Manu Tuilagi Can he rekindle the 2012 Manu Tuilagi that blew New Zealand away? His recent form suggests he could well do so, and New Zealand know they need to hatch a plan to contain him when he’s given the space out wide.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 14. Anthony Watson The wing utilised his footwork supremely well against Australia, and having been faced with the powerhouse that was Marika Koroibete last week, George Bridge should be a welcome release.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 15. Elliot Daly Jones’s go-to man at full-back, Daly needs something closer to what he produced against Argentina than the Australia game.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 17. Joe Marler
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 18. Dan Cole
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 19. Courtney Lawes
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 20. Lewis Ludlam
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 21. Willi Heinz
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 22. Henry Slade
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: England vs New Zealand predicted team 23. Jack Nowell
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The likelihood is that Jones would not have called up a replacement for Farrell even if the fly-half looked unlikely to make the Yokohama final, given there is ample cover within the squad through George Ford, Henry Slade and Piers Francis.
There was good news though surrounding Anthony Watson, with the wing shaking off the soreness that he reported following the match, while Spencer continued to get to grips with his role in the squad as he trained with Ben Youngs.
A number of players from the Suntory Sungoliath squad also took part in training once again to make up the numbers.
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