We can deal with chaos says Jamie
ENGLAND LOOK TO PLAN B
JAMIE GEORGE says England’s response to their World Cup campaign being blown off course by a typhoon has convinced them they can handle any coronavirus disruption.
The decision by the Irish Government to postpone Ireland’s home Six Nations fixture against Italy on Saturday week increases the likelihood of the plug being pulled on England’s match in Italy seven days later.
The chances of that happening have not been helped by several European countries reporting their first cases of coronavirus, apparently linked to the outbreak in Italy.
England, like Ireland, have an outside chance of winning the championship should France slip up in their remaining two rounds.
And George took time away from preparing to face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday week to insist they would adapt to whatever happens in the coming fortnight.
“We are focusing on what we know is ahead of us and that is the game against Wales,” said the Saracens star. “No-one has any idea what might happen as there is obviously a serious issue going on.
“What we can do is take huge amount of confidence from the way we dealt with and reacted to Typhoon Hagibis in Japan.
“We are very blessed to have an amazing staff and the playing group responds very well to situations like that. We are confident that we will be as well prepared
aas we can happen.”
Hagibis claimed 98 lives, caused catastrophic destruction across eastern Japan and led World Cup organisers to cancel England’s pool clash against France.
An event without precedent in Rugby World Cup history could have caused England problems. Instead Eddie Jones switched to Plan B, flew his squad south until the danger had passed, then returned and reached the final. George said: “Within an hour or be if anything does two we were on a plane down to Miyazaki and had a brilliant training camp that set us up nicely for a quarter-final and semi-final.
“These things happen, it’s out of our control.There’s not a lot we can do about it. But Eddie speaks about it a lot: focus on what we can control.
“You have to feel for the Italian guys and the Irish guys. From our point of view we’ve got the best admin staff around so we know we can deal with whatever.”
Jones yesterday restored fitagain England duo Anthony Watson and Mark Wilson to a squad which is spending this week training in Oxfordshire.
Bath wing Watson has yet to play this year because of a calf injury while flanker Wilson is only recently back in training after
knee surgery.
Ireland v Italy rugby union game on
March 7.
Rugby union games in Italy for both Ospreys and Ulster.
Chinese Grand Prix, in Shanghai, scheduled for April 19.
World Indoor Championships, in China, between March 13-15, until next year.
Four Serie A fixtures, including Inter Milan v Sampdoria, on February 23.
European Tour’s Maybank Championship and Volvo China Open, scheduled for April.
China Open, in Beijing, between March 30-April 5.
in Seoul, between March 13-15.
Women’s Xi’an Open, between April 13-19. China have forfeited a Davis Cup play-off in Romania, between March 6-7.
This weekend’s Serie A clash between Juventus and Inter Milan, plus matches at Udinese, AC Milan, Parma and Sassuolo. 1991: 2000: 2011: