England v South Africa: Kyle Eastmond back in training
England look set to field an unchanged centre combination against
South Africa on Saturday, after Kyle Eastmond returned to full training
on Tuesday.
The Bath player had been in bed ill but England attack coach Mike Catt confirmed he has made a full recovery.
"He's had a day in bed but he trained with us this morning," Catt told BBC Radio 5 live.
"So he is fighting fit and ready to go. It's another Test match and the players need to perform. "
Despite the 24-21 loss to New Zealand last Saturday, Catt suggested the bulk of the back-line will be given another opportunity to gel against the Springboks. They looked very reassured in defence [against New Zealand]," he added.
"I think if we play the way we can play, Kyle will get more into the game and be able to create more things we know he is capable of creating."
Catt believes it would be unfair to drop either 25-year-old Eastmond or outside-centre Brad Barritt, 28.
"I think it would be very harsh to move those two players on," he said.
"It's about consistency. We've been very happy with Kyle.
"He's been in amazing form for his club.
"He thoroughly deserves a shot, so I think against South Africa we need to make sure we get our game-plan right, and if we get that right, we will see Kyle and Brad working exceptionally well together."
Another option England have is to select Bath fly-half George Ford and move Owen Farrell to inside centre, a combination that represented England at age-grade level.
The former England centre Jeremy Guscott told BBC Radio 5 live this idea "wouldn't work".
"You put Farrell into inside centre, you lose your get-go and dynamic power to get over the gain-line from someone like [Luther] Burrell or [Billy] Twelvetrees, and Farrell is not as great a distributor as Kyle Eastmond," Guscott said. "So in no way will Farrell work playing at 12, that is a definite no-no. They played together at [England] Under-20 level, but this is man's rugby, this is Test rugby."
But Catt says it could happen in the future.
"It's an option," he said. "But we are very blessed with 12s and 13s at the moment so we will select what is best for the team and what is right for the team."
Catt is expecting a significant reaction from the Springboks at Twickenham after their 29-15 defeat by Ireland in Dublin last Saturday.
"They are a very physical side," he said. "It will be interesting to see whether they carry on playing with width, or whether they revert back to their big men just running route-one lines.
"But whatever they throw at us we have to be prepared and ready to combat it. We need a reaction. It's time to deliver."
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