Ben Morgan’s attempt to recover from a broken leg in time to win a place in England’s World Cup squad will come down to one final training session.
The Gloucester No 8, who has played just 40 minutes since he suffered the injury in January, must convince the England management of his fitness during an internal trial match today or the door will open for Nick Easter to appear at a third World Cup.
Stuart Lancaster, the head coach, is staging the competitive session at England’s HQ today in a bid to finalise his selections before announcing his 31-man squad at lunchtime tomorrow.
One other key decision to be made is whether Luther Burrell or Sam Burgess claims the last available centre position, a selection “dilemma” that appears to be the source of much debate within the England management team.
Morgan was out for eight months and made his comeback only 11 days ago. He played the first half of England’s 19-14 victory over France, but was not involved in the return match.
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The management are giving Morgan every chance, but they have clear concerns over his match fitness and he is under pressure from Easter, who enhanced his prospects with a strong performance off the bench in Paris.
“I thought he had an influential impact,” Graham Rowntree, the forwards coach, said. “He’s in good nick, he’s powerful and experienced.
“Ben has not played a great deal of rugby in the last eight months. His game against France at Twickenham was massive for him psychologically to get back on a rugby field. Nick playing like he did makes competition even fiercer. There are a few difficult decisions to be made. That’s why we’re leaving it to the last minute.”
Lancaster must cut eight players in total. Some of those who were guaranteed a place at the World Cup have already been told, but the last one-to-one conversations with the players will be held tomorrow morning.
Henry Slade, the Exeter Chiefs centre, appears to have secured a place alongside Jonathan Joseph and Brad Barritt, but whether it is Burgess or Burrell who complete the midfield contingent is to be decided. Kieran Brookes, the Northampton Saints prop, is understood to have been pencilled into the final squad, leaving Alex Corbisiero in danger of being cut.