Jonathan Joseph has been added to England’s Six Nations squad despite making only one appearance in the past nine months. Eddie Jones has opted against any fly-half cover for the injured Owen Farrell, dashing Danny Cipriani’s hopes of a recall. Joseph’s addition is the only change to the squad to travel to Portugal on Wednesday, with Farrell, as well as Joe Launchbury and Brad Shields, who emerged as fitness worries on Sunday, confirmed among the 36-man group. Launchbury is no longer a concern but Shields’s participation against Ireland on 2 February is in the balance due to a side strain.
Farrell was always expected to head to Portugal and England are confident their captain will be fit to face Ireland but after undergoing thumb surgery last Saturday, it remains to be seen if he can take a full part in training in Portugal, the first session of which is on Friday. That raised the possibility of England calling on an extra fly-half with Cipriani among the potential options but Jones has handed the extra place in his squad – he can select a maximum of 36 – to Joseph.
The Bath centre managed 51 minutes on his comeback appearance against Toulouse on Sunday but Jones has been happy to call on players with limited game‑time in the past – Ben Te’o started three of England’s four autumn internationals after playing only 28 minutes for Worcester in the two months prior. Joseph’s lay-off has been considerable however, after he suffered a broken foot as well as ligament damage last April. Bath had pencilled him in to return towards the end of last year but his comeback was delayed by a subsequent achilles problem.
It is understood Joseph’s call-up is not due to fitness concerns over any other centres in the squad, rather that he is considered to have proved his fitness over the weekend and is in contention to face Ireland. His last cap came at the end of last year’s Six Nations and he is England’s joint top try‑scorer under Jones but Henry Slade has established himself as the first-choice outside-centre in Joseph’s absence. He also has competition from Manu Tuilagi, after Jones conceded last week that the Leicester centre is best suited to the No 13 jersey, as well as Te’o. While Launchbury’s recovery is welcome, Shields’s persisting problem is a headache for Jones. The blindside flanker was praised for his leadership during the autumn internationals and the head coach is already without the flankers Chris Robshaw and Sam Underhill due to injury.
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