Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Ben Te’o has agreed a short-term deal with Toulon following his omission from England ’s Rugby World Cup squad, the French Top 14 club said on Wednesday.
England coach Eddie Jones left the centre out of his 31-man squad last week, and Te’o will now be unavailable for selection as an injury replacement because the Rugby Football Union does not consider foreign-based players.
The 32-year-old was excluded from the final week of England’s training camp in Treviso following an altercation with teammate Mike Brown.
New Zealand-born Te’o, a former rugby league player in Australia, was made to apologise to his teammates in March after a late-night drinking session at the end of the Six Nations.
He will bolster Toulon’s ranks for the next three months, providing cover while the World Cup runs from 20 September until 2 November
Show all 23 1 /23England vs Ireland predicted team England vs Ireland predicted team 1. Joe Marler Mako Vunipola is hoping to return from long-term injury but England would be wise to ease him back in and give Joe Marler his first start of the campaign.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 2. Jamie George It would be good to give Jack Singleton minutes from the start but against a team such as Ireland, first-choice Jamie George would be the smart option.
Action Images via Reuters
England vs Ireland predicted team 3. Kyle Sinckler After Dan Cole started the first two matches against Wales, it makes sense to give Sinckler the next two starting with the Irish.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 4. Maro Itoje Despite having four excellent locks, England are stretched a little bit due to injuries in the back-row that they have had to cover, so Itoje will need to double up this weekend.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 5. George Kruis After coming off the bench last weekend, Kruis can come in to return to the starting line-up in place of Joe Launchbury.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 6. Tom Curry It would be good for the England coaching team to see how Curry goes at six before they depart for Japan, and providing he is fully fit, he should return to the starting line-up after a shoulder knock.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 7. Sam Underhill Like Curry, his return is injury-dependent but the early signs look positive. Two games later than planned, we should hopefully see what the Curry-Underhill axis in the back-row can do.
Action Images via Reuters
England vs Ireland predicted team 8. Mark Wilson His selection poses as a risk given he is another member of this back-row unit that missed last weekend with injury, but deployed Billy Vunipola for a third straight hit-out would be risking it given his recent injury record.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 9. Ben Youngs A straight swap with Willi Heinz that would again see them rotate after the Gloucester scrum-half started both Wales games.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 10. Owen Farrell Made his first appearance of the warm-up campaign off the bench last week and almost certain to start against Ireland – although may not necessarily be in the No 10 shirt depending on what Jones chooses to go with.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 11. Jonny May England have held him back so far but could do with the minutes to keep him up to speed.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 12. Manu Tuilagi Has made two fleeting appearances a late replacement so far, and likely to start at Twickenham on Saturday. But if Jones decides to pair Ford and Farrell, he could find himself in the 13 shirt instead.
Getty
England vs Ireland predicted team 13. Piers Francis The injuries to Henry Slade and Jack Nowell gives England a problem at centre. One of Jonathan Joseph or Piers Francis will have to go back-to-back-to-back, and given Joseph is not long returned from a serious injury, it would be sensible to give that responsibility to Francis.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 14. Joe Cokanasiga Another player who will need to make his third appearance in a row with Nowell and Ruaridh McConnochie ruled out, and the Bath wing will be needed to step up to ensure Anthony Watson is not put under too great a demand early on in his return.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 15. Elliot Daly Falls into the category of the triple-appearance due to Nowell and McConnochie’s absence.
Action Images via Reuters
England vs Ireland predicted team <b>Replacements:</b> 16. Jack Singleton Could use the minutes from the bench and, as we saw last weekend, also offers support across the back-row.
REUTERS
England vs Ireland predicted team 17. Mako Vunipola Expected to make his return from a torn hamstring after three months out.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 18. Dan Cole A given due to only having two tightheads in the squad, unless Jones springs a surprise and names Vunipola in the starting XV, Ellis Genge as loosehead cover and deploys Marler as his emergency tighthead. Unlikely to happen against Ireland, though.
REUTERS
England vs Ireland predicted team 19. Courtney Lawes Selected to cover the second and back rows by virtue of playing fewer minutes than Joe Launchbury.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 20. Billy Vunipola Allows Wilson to move to blindside flanker if needed as Lawes can cover flanker.
PA
England vs Ireland predicted team 21. Willi Heinz Drops to the bench after his first two international appearances of his career.
Getty Images
England vs Ireland predicted team 22. George Ford Could maintain his place in the starting line-up but more likely to drop to the bench.
Action Images via Reuters
England vs Ireland predicted team 23. Anthony Watson Able to cover wing and full-back, meaning Daly can be deployed at outside centre if needed and Farrell can cover 12. Likely to be picked ahead of Joseph as otherwise England would need to risk Francis at full-back if anything were to happen to Daly.
Action Images via Reuters
The experienced centre, who has been capped 18 times by England, will undergo a medical on Friday before joining the squad for training next week.
Te’o left English Premiership side Worcester Warriors at the end of the 2018-19 campaign season after three seasons at Sixways.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies