Maro Itoje is nearing his maximum game time threshold of 2,400 minutes for the season, potentially restricting his participation until season’s end.
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The indispensable second row, pivotal to Steve Borthwick’s England squad during the Six Nations, has returned to Saracens with an injury post-tournament.
“Maro returned from England with a little bit of a grotty knee. It’s nothing too serious,” Saracens boss Mark McCall said.
“It should be fine. He didn’t play last weekend. He may not play this weekend. Maro will be fine.
“Obviously there is a requirement to rest a few of them (Saracens’ England stars). We’ve been talking with the RFU and RPA as to when that could be. There’s been an agreement reached.
“We’re very clear on the plan for those players. There’s good flexibility around it which is as it should be to be honest.
“There are no hard and fast rules. Both the RFU and RPA have been pretty good.”
The reason why Steve Borthwick has exiled Zach Mercer from the England squad
Rumour has it that Head Coach Borthwick has shifted focus from a number of aging stars, who have disclosed their plans for next season.
Zach Mercer
Mercer, has declared that he’s taking a break from England duty for the time being, expressing his disappointment at being excluded from the upcoming Six Nations Championship squad.
Mercer said: “I’ve been open with Steve, I’ve told him my opinions on it. I thought I haven’t really been given a crack which is what I feel like, to not even be given a game to try and prove myself is tough.
“I just don’t feel like he values what I can offer as a player and that’s me being honest, I don’t think he values what I can bring.
“Obviously I don’t fit into the system that he wants to run and, whether I agree with that or not, it is what it is.
“My focus now is on Gloucester and England can take a step aside for the moment.”
Borthwick response:
“Zach and I had a conversation last week. We’ve had a number of conversations over the last couple of weeks with Zach since he’s come back from injury.
“We’ve highlighted areas where players have done well and the areas where they bring a point of difference. It’s a competitive arena.
“And [we highlight] areas where we want them to develop them and add to their game. That’s the same conversation I had with Zach.
“When I’m talking to a player, I’m basing it in objectivity. I’m basing it on targets for them to go after, and then we can shape a shared understanding of what we’re seeing.
“Granted, sometimes as a coach you want something specific in a team, I’m always looking at all the coaches and all the players that are able to provide that.”