Matt Mullan is relishing the chance to lock horns with Argentina’s scrum on England’s forthcoming two-Test tour and believes a strong showing against the Pumas may enhance his claim to hold on to the No1 jersey.
With Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola away with the Lions, the Wasps loosehead prop is vying with Ellis Genge for a starting berth against Argentina, traditional heavyweights at the scrum. Of the 30 players unavailable to Eddie Jones 10 are front-rows but the head coach has challenged his current squad to keep those injured or away out of the side when they return.
“If you get a chance when you are out there, then you want to try and play as well as you can,” said Mullan. “If you are the last person in that shirt in Eddie’s eyes, then that could stand you in good stead next time he selects a group. Against Argentina there is a combination of technique and size and they pride themselves on that area – it is traditionally a strength of theirs and we know it is going to be a challenge. We will have to do our homework but that scrum battle is going to be important out there.”
In an effort to build camaraderie and encourage competition Jones arranged a quiz night for his 32-man squad – split into four teams of eight – on Wednesday. The referee Wayne Barnes wrote it, England’s defence coach, Paul Gustard, was quizmaster and Dylan Hartley’s side won. This competitive element has continued in the gym and around the training camp.
“It’s a bit of a challenge and it picks up each team. Having not met some of the boys before you get the chance to sit and talk to them,” added Mullan. “It is just a really nice way to interact and get to know each other a bit quicker.”
Chris Robshaw trained alone at a public session at Twickenham on Friday because of a sore ankle but Gustard is confident he will be fit to take part in the first Test, a week on Saturday. Marland Yarde, who joined up with the squad at the start of the week and went on stand-by in case Denny Solomona failed to recover from his ankle injury, will travel to Argentina.
