Maro Itoje proves to be unbeatable in the gym
The England second-rows were pitted against each other in the gym last week during England’s training camp in Jersey, and it turned out to be a battle for the ages.
The players were tested to see how high they could jump, which tends to come in handy when you’re a lock. It all came down to a one on one battle between what is expected to be England’s starting locks, Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill, with the Saracen just shading his teammate by the narrowest of margins, with David Ribbans coming close as well.
Take a look at the competition:
https://youtu.be/gOwaOtPil28?t=546
Out of the five locks taking part in that competition, four have been retained in Eddie Jones’ 25-man squad that prepare to play Argentina this Sunday.
Ribbans and his Northampton Saints teammate Alex Coles are uncapped, but could both make their first appearance at Twickenham. They are joined by Hill and Itoje as the locks in the squad, as well as Newcastle Falcons’ uncapped Sean Robinson who was not part of the Jersey training camp. Coles and Robinson are both capable of playing in the back row, which might give an indication of what the England coaching staff are planning.
FULL SQUAD
FORWARDS
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 41 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 39 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 58 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Sean Robinson (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 64 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)
Jack Willis (unattached, 4 caps)
BACKS
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 97 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 48 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)
