RugbyRebels

Six Nations 2020: Anthony Watson and Mark Wilson called up for England

Rugby World Cup stars Anthony Watson and Mark Wilson have been called up to a 25-man England training squad for their Six Nations match against Wales.

Bath wing Watson has yet to play in this year's Championship because of a calf injury. Meanwhile Newcastle flanker Wilson - who is on loan at Sale - recently returned to action after knee surgery. Prop Mako Vunipola and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie are absent for family reasons.

Saracens back-row forward Ben Earl, who won his first caps against Scotland and Ireland, has not been included, while Exeter prop Harry Williams has been preferred to Bath's Will Stuart. Northampton full-back George Furbank, who missed the win against Ireland, will continue his rehabilitation in camp.

Head coach Eddie Jones' slimmed-down squad meet on Wednesday lunchtime in Oxford for three days of training before the game at Twickenham on 7 March.England re-established their Six Nations title credentials with a 24-12 victory over Ireland on Sunday.

England squad
Forwards: Curry, Dunn, Ewels, Genge, George, Itoje, Kruis, Launchbury, Lawes, Ludlam, Marler, Sinckler, Underhill, Williams, Wilson.
Backs: Daly, Farrell, Ford, Heinz, Joseph, May, Slade, Tuilagi, Watson, Youngs.

That squad looks set up for a 6:2 bench split again with one forward and one back being omitted from the match day 23.

Having said that, if Jones were to omit two forwards, the backs line-up would have balance if, say, Heinz, Joseph and Slade/Ford were on the bench.

Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Scrumhead wrote:Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Clearly Stuart has committed unforgiveable sins in his total 17 minutes across 3 games. I'm not a Williams fan at all, so this is very sad news in my opinion.

Dunn is once more set up to potentially earn a cap for England. Who wants to bet that Eddie will continue jerking him around and leave him on the bench for the full 80m?

Puja

Scrumhead wrote:Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Could just be that Stuart has been released to play for Bath this weekend as he's only had 17 minutes of rugby in the last 4 weeks?
After all, it's a training squad for a fallow weekend, not necessarily the match squad to perm 23 for the day

Having said that - you'd want Wilson and Watson to play for their clubs this weekend as well wouldn't you?

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Clearly Stuart has committed unforgiveable sins in his total 17 minutes across 3 games. I'm not a Williams fan at all, so this is very sad news in my opinion.

Dunn is once more set up to potentially earn a cap for England. Who wants to bet that Eddie will continue jerking him around and leave him on the bench for the full 80m?

Puja

Maybe, club game-time is seen as more beneficial. Were Sinckler to get injured in training Williams/Stuart on a 60/20, starting/finishing basis might be preferrable to the other way around or recalling Cole?

Oakboy wrote:

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Clearly Stuart has committed unforgiveable sins in his total 17 minutes across 3 games. I'm not a Williams fan at all, so this is very sad news in my opinion.

Dunn is once more set up to potentially earn a cap for England. Who wants to bet that Eddie will continue jerking him around and leave him on the bench for the full 80m?

Puja

Maybe, club game-time is seen as more beneficial. Were Sinckler to get injured in training Williams/Stuart on a 60/20, starting/finishing basis might be preferrable to the other way around or recalling Cole?

Fair point. Hopefully that's what's in Eddie's mind, but I doubt it.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Weird that Stuart has been swapped out for Williams? He’s done well so far and even if it’s a ‘horses for courses’ scenario, I can’t really see anything Williams does better?

Could just be that Stuart has been released to play for Bath this weekend as he's only had 17 minutes of rugby in the last 4 weeks?
After all, it's a training squad for a fallow weekend, not necessarily the match squad to perm 23 for the day

Having said that - you'd want Wilson and Watson to play for their clubs this weekend as well wouldn't you?

The only bit of devil's advocacy that I'd throw in is that Jones and his coaching crew have arguably used the longer training-camp stint to good effect. The performance against Ireland was the most effective of the 6N to date anyway. Wilson and Watson are serious contenders to start against Wales and Jones might argue that the longest time in camp possible is the way to go. Slade is the precedent, I suppose.

I'm sure the need for players to get a bit of action is a consideration thats why its odd that Slade hasnt been released.

Happy enough with Williams being included. He's been playing very well for Exeter, though I dont think he will oust Stuart from the matchday 23. In the same way that Dunn is unlikely to get the nod over George and LCD.

Very good to see Watson back. And Wilson, of course.

Good to see Wilson and Watson back. Though I would still like to see Mercer in there. Or failing that, Dombrandt.

As Which says, this isn't the final squad for the Wales game.

Yes but surely if EJ was even considering another 8 they’d be in this squad?

Happy enough that Wilson will add some balance back if selected though.

Mikey Brown wrote:Yes but surely if EJ was even considering another 8 they’d be in this squad?

Happy enough that Wilson will add some balance back if selected though.

My point was broader than 8, and I think we all know Eddie isn't likely to row back from Curry through choice anytime soon. I'd think LCD and Stuart will be back in the squad next week, for example.

Fair enough. Thought it was more in response to Stom’s call for Mercer.

The tight head situation at least makes more sense if EJ is just prepping in case an experienced option drops out.

Banquo wrote:As Which says, this isn't the final squad for the Wales game.

This!! There's little to discuss in this at all, other than he has called in Wilson, who obviously can cover 8, so happy days. Other than that it is simply a training squad. Some players will need game time, some less so. Hey ho, it's a training squad for the rest weekend.

When he calls in the 35 for game week then there is something meaty to pick apart.

I'd be more comfortable with such thinking if Heinz hadn't been foisted on us via a callup to the training group

Digby wrote:I'd be more comfortable with such thinking if Heinz hadn't been foisted on us via a callup to the training group

Hardly likely to be removed mid tournament really. My hope is that the summer tour holds true in terms of WC Squad being rested.

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Digby wrote:I'd be more comfortable with such thinking if Heinz hadn't been foisted on us via a callup to the training group

Hardly likely to be removed mid tournament really. My hope is that the summer tour holds true in terms of WC Squad being rested.

I'd always like ability to be a determinant, mind I'd also like England not to be so prescriptive. But it is what it is under Eddie.

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Yes but surely if EJ was even considering another 8 they’d be in this squad?

Happy enough that Wilson will add some balance back if selected though.

My point was broader than 8, and I think we all know Eddie isn't likely to row back from Curry through choice anytime soon. I'd think LCD and Stuart will be back in the squad next week, for example.

Will be interesting to see how Wilson is used. If Eddie wants a quiet, face saving ‘u turn/get out’ from the Curry at 8 experiment, then he could play Wilson there. I am annoyed that neither Ludlum or Earl were given much if any time at 8 as both had far more of the raw ingredients to make a go of 8 than Tom Out and Out (c) Openside Curry imo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51704949

Mako and LCD available.....Maunder in, as are those guys like Stuart who were getting game time.

I’ll take that!

Umaga in but no Simmonds or Smith for FH training experience. That should encourage them.

Tom Dunn's purgatory continues. He's never going to get a cap!

Puja

Oakboy wrote:Umaga in but no Simmonds or Smith for FH training experience. That should encourage them.

Indeed ...

At least Umaga is playing well. What I want to know is how Maunder’s 1 anonymous hour of rugby this calendar year can possibly be better than Robson’s current form. I know the 3rd 9 is more or less of an irrelevance, but it’s very poor from a man-management POV.

Good squad but Scrum Half is still an issue. Is Jack Willis just not being picked or is he injured?