Saracens counting the cost as Eddie Jones looks to Alex Lozowski

Alex Lozowski came on as a second-half replacement against Argentina
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Chris Jones22 November 2017

Alex Lozowski is set to start in the England midfield against Samoa on Saturday and, with club-mate Owen Farrell also retained in the squad, it leaves Saracens with a back‑line dilemma heading into Sunday’s clash against Premiership champions Exeter.

Sarries, whose loss at Gloucester last weekend allowed the Chiefs to replace them at the top of the table, are without long-term absentee Billy Vunipola, plus Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe and now Lozowski, with only George Kruis released back from Eddie Jones’s squad.

Exeter are also missing key players due to injury and international call-ups, with Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Tom Francis, Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds unavailable, highlighting the problems of continuing to play Premiership matches on international weekends. Simmonds will replace Wasps’ Nathan Hughes, who is out for a month with a knee injury, at No8.

Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall has also lost Sean Maitland to Scotland, while Liam Williams has returned from Wales duty with an abdominal injury. McCall is mulling over his options at fly-half for the Exeter match, with 20-year-old Max Malins and England full-back Alex Goode in the running. It is likely that Goode will start at No10, with Malins getting a second-half run out.

Club matters are not affecting Lozowski’s preparations for a probable start at centre for England, alongside Exeter’s Slade, as head coach Jones tries to identify the three options he is still looking for in “four or five positions” in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Lozowski, along with the other kickers in the squad has been receiving regular tips from World Cup winner — and one of Jones’s squad mentors — Jonny Wilkinson.

“Jonny is the best kicker we have ever seen in our game and to have him come in and help is brilliant,” said Lozowski. “The great thing is he brings something new every time. He is always thinking of new things. When you join up with the national team, that is what you want, to be coached things you do not necessarily get at your club.

“We are doing a lot of spiral kicking. It is a kick that has maybe gone out of the game, but being coached through that skillset will help with goal-kicking and punting because they are all transferable. Jonny is big with that.”

Lozowski made a searing break after coming on as a second-half replacement against Argentina but was sent back to Sarries for last Saturday’s Test against Australia.

At Twickenham on Saturday, though, he will be tasked with being equally dangerous with ball in hand against the big-tackling Samoans.

“I was pleased with how I played when I came on [against the Pumas] and I tried to make positive contribution in the time I had on the pitch,” he said. “Selection goes the way it goes. You just have to get on with it.”

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