"40C heat" - Four England players haven't travelled to Italy as they are recovering from injuries

The team's base in Verona, northern Italy, has experienced scorching temperatures reaching 40C this week.

With the intention of preparing his squad for the demanding moments that arise in World Cup fixtures, head coach Steve Borthwick sees the extreme conditions as a valuable test. Borthwick emphasizes the significance of being well-prepared for the most arduous situations in the game.

"You've got to be physically equipped for the toughest situations in the game," head coach Borthwick said. 

"There are extreme moments within the game and Test matches are so tight. So if you are not conditioned for those extreme moments, those are the ones which can make or break you.

"If you are conditioned better than the opposition for those extreme moments, you get the crucial score at that point. 

"Or [if you are not] you concede the crucial score, or you make the poor decision or the great decision.

"So you need to be conditioned and physically equipped for how you want to play in the toughest circumstances of a Test match."

In Verona, the England World Cup training camp boasts the complete presence of all 41 squad members. Joining them is Ollie Lawrence, the Bath centre, who is making a promising recovery from a knee injury.

As the recipient of the prestigious title of Premiership player of the season in 2023, Lawrence is on track to rejoin the team in preparation for England's crucial warm-up matches in August.

Unfortunately, a quartet of players consisting of hooker Jack Walker, prop Mako Vunipola, lock Ollie Chessum, and number eight Billy Vunipola, are currently undergoing rehabilitation for their respective injuries from the comforts of their homes.

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Popular Welshman Owens refereed in an era filled with feisty players, many of whom presented a challenge or two.

Lately, he revealed the five most annoying players he presided over during his record-breaking career...

OWENS SAID: "Itoje is someone who plays right on the edge. That is what makes him such a great player. He must be so difficult to play against but he’s also difficult to referee and I mean that with the utmost respect. 

"He plays with passion and on the line. It is difficult to tell Itoje not to bring the same confrontation and aggression to the game that he usually does. It would take away from his game.

"You don’t want him to change the way he plays but he needs to pick and choose when he gambles on the situation and when he doesn’t. And understand better those moments when you are under pressure and knowing when, if you take a risk and get it wrong, you will land your team in real trouble."

OWENS SAID: "A player who pushed himself, but also sometimes the referee, to their limit due to his intensity. A really nice guy away from the field."

DID YOU KNOW? He has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and one English Premiership title with Harlequins

Owens said: “Definitely! Stringer and O'Gara, oh, when you had to referee the two of them together. I always got on well with the both of them though. I have a huge amount of respect for them, but they made my days hard on occasions. They were lippy in a respectful way.”

Owens said:"Oh god yes. He's so focused and so passionate about what he's doing, we've had a few run ins on the pitch down the years. I mean, it's always been in a respectful way as we always have a drink and a laugh after the game."

Owens said: "Definitely. I only caught him towards the end of his career, thankfully. A wonderfully talented player and a very good pundit now, but he always had plenty say and quickly assumed I didn't like him. He's actually blocked me on Twitter, but I don't think I'm the only one."