England play down Ben Te’o fitness concerns ahead of first Australia Test

No issue: Ben Te’o will take part in training tomorrow
David Rogers/Getty Images
Chris Jones6 June 2016

England today played down fitness concerns over rugby league convert Ben Te’o after he missed training on the Gold Coast.

The strong running centre is tipped to win his maiden cap in Saturday’s First Test against Australia, having recently qualified for England after moving from Leinster to Worcester.

Te’o missed training this morning on “medical advice” but England defensive coach Paul Gustard says the former NRL star will take part in tomorrow’s session as the squad gear up for the opening Test in Brisbane.

The 29-year-old was officially welcomed to the England set-up by his team-mates last night.

Full-back Mike Brown said the initiation was “good fun” and Te’o had quickly found his place among his new team-mates.

“It was just a bit of fun,” said Brown. “A bit of banter and enjoying each other’s company off the field.

“Being a rugby league fan, I know what he’s about. He’s a big, physical guy with good off-load, hands and skills.”

England head coach Eddie Jones today started his attempts to wind up Michael Cheika but the Australia boss insisted he will not get involved.

Although Cheika has selection problems, Jones is adamant his friend will not make wholesale changes for the first of three Tests and named the team he expects the Wallabies to field.

Jones said: “Mate, it’s all smoke from Cheik at the moment. He is boxing clever but I know there’ll be no shock selections. Karmichael Hunt will be on the bench at best, but I see why because he’s the good, tough, no nonsense player that Cheik likes.

“Israel Folau will be in his normal spot at full-back not in the centres. Christian Lealiifano will be the starter at inside centre and he’ll play the big Fijian [Taqele Naiyaravoro] on the wing or maybe [Dane] Haylett-Petty.

The only big decision is at left lock with James Horwill or Sam Carter to partner Rob Simmons. Given it’s Suncorp Stadium, the home-town guy Horwill will likely get the nod.”

Cheika knows all about Jones’s love of mind games and believes he must ignore them to ensure the players concentrate on beating England.

“It’s a bit of carry on but what will win us the game is aggression, speed, good skills, hunger and being prepared to do whatever it takes,” said Cheika.

“Eddie is just doing what he thinks his team need, so that’s what he’s doing to support his team. Eddie hasn’t really thrown many barbs. He hasn’t called me fat or bald or anything like that.

“I want to dedicate all my energy to our guys and make sure I’m doing my job properly here. I don’t want my players to think that all that stuff is going to win us the game. We look at it in a different way where we are working internally around our mental strength.”

Scotland full-back Sean Maitland has quit relegated London Irish to join Saracens. The double winners have also signed prop Vincent Koch, who is preparing to face England Saxons with South Africa A.

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