Jacob starts with Dan on bench A Team

[MarleyWasp]

The match has been cancelled due to Covid in the Scotland squad.

[Chunky24]

Tough news for many of the players involved for whom this might have been their chance to represent their country and stake a claim, particularly someone like Robin Hislop, hope he and others get another shot sometime.

[hopwood]

What a shame.
Especially for Jacob. That might have been his real opportunity to shine.

From the Telegraph.


England's first fixture of the summer has been cancelled with the Rugby Football Union announcing on Sunday morning that the fixture between England 'A' and Scotland 'A' had been called off following more positive Covid-19 cases in the Scotland squad.

The fixture was due to take place at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester and will not be rearranged. It would have been the first game played by England's second side in five years, when the team formerly known as England Saxons played two matches against South Africa.

Scotland reported one player had tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week and that a further eight players were isolating, which lead to Scotland calling up an additional five players to their squad.

However further positive tests in the Scotland squad - no exact number has been given - have now led to Sunday's fixture being cancelled.

The RFU confirmed that ticket holders will receive an automated refund in the coming days.

England's squad will train at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this morning before returning to Pennyhill Park to prepare for the upcoming Test matches against USA next Sunday and then Canada.

Jones said: “We are of course very disappointed not to be playing this match and particularly playing in front of a great crowd in Leicester.
 
“However, we understand that the safety and wellbeing of all of our teams and supporters is the most important thing and we wish Scotland the very best.”

England were set to field a side containing 11 uncapped players, one of whom was new captain Lewis Ludlow of Gloucester.

The fixture being cancelled means that five players including Ludlow who also qualify for other Test nations will remain uncaptured, unless they are capped against the USA or Canada. Those players are Ludlow (Wales), Dan Kelly, (Ireland), Jacob Umaga (Samoa and New Zealand), Harry Randall (Wales) and Heyes (Ireland and Wales).

England assistant coach John Mitchell, who was set to lead England 'A' for this fixture, spoke in the week following Scotland's initial Covid-19 case about how England were managing their third bubble situation, following the autumn Tests and Six Nations.

Mitchell added: “We’re still very vigilant in terms of Covid protocols. The good thing is there’s so much more human interaction, whereas the previous campaign was a lot colder. The weather has been fantastic as well, we’ve got great facilities to train in. But people love the people connection, the ability to connect, but also being mindful that when you’re inside you’ve got to be aware of the two metres social distancing and the masks.”

[Shugs]

Shame. Was looking forward to that one.

[JonnyD]

So Radwan is still eligible for Egypt...

[baldpaul101]

So Radwan is still eligible for Egypt...

Lets hope someone at the Cairo headquarters of the ERFU is paying attention and offers him a call up !

[will311293]

Don't we see a revised squad come out today?

[DGP Wasp]

Don't we see a revised squad come out today?

Presumably, yes.  With the addition of Quins and Chiefs players, and a further cull to free up the required space in the squad.

[Shugs]

Oghre, Bassett, Robson and Umaga in. Plus some players from other teams.

[Rossm]

Revised squad.

Forwards

Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, uncapped)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap)
Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, uncapped)
Curtis Langdon (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Josh McNally (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Chunya Munga (London Irish, uncapped)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
Gabriel Oghre (Wasps, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 22 caps)
Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Backs

Josh Bassett (Wasps, uncapped)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 6 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, on loan from Saracens, 7 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 5 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 12 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 38 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, uncapped)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps, uncapped)

[JonnyD]

Oghre has done well to come back in - Singleton injured I think but what happened to Capon? Think he’s had a great season at Bristol.

Umaga must have impressed this week in camp leaving Joe Simmonds MBE slightly miffed again I imagine

[InBetweenWasp]

I wonder whether Simmonds’ isn’t seen as needing squad time in the way some of the more mercurial players might. 

Someone like Jacob may well need that time to balance playing the percentages vs spotting a gap and gambling or throwing a poorly judged wonder pass.

Smith has gotten a lot better this season at feeling out what to do when.  This is probably hugely unfair to Simmonds, but he’s much more robotic.  Apparent nerves of steel but could probably just come and slot in, kick territory and make passes with a play maker inside of him easily enough.

I think the likes of Jacob and Smith need players to get to know them a bit more as they’re much less prescriptive and much more instinctive.

[Shugs]

I actually don't think J Simmonds is a good enough 10 right now. For me he's behind Smith, Ford and Umaga.