Courtney Lawes winning fitness battle ahead of England v South Africa
Monday 7 November 2016 15:33, UK
England lock Courtney Lawes is winning his battle with a knee injury and is expected to start Saturday's clash with South Africa at Twickenham.
Lawes was a late withdrawal from two Northampton matches last month due to bruising on the joint and had been given until Tuesday to prove his fitness for the Old Mutual Wealth Series opener.
But the 27-year-old's recovery has progressed well and he is set to resume his World Cup second-row partnership alongside Joe Launchbury in the injury-enforced absence of Maro Itoje and George Kruis.
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"Courtney has taken part in training this morning (Monday) and will take part in training this afternoon so we expect him to be fit," defence coach Paul Gustard said.
Mako Vunipola arrived at last week's training camp in Portugal with a hip problem but that has also been resolved and England have a fully fit 34-man squad to select from for the Springboks.
"Mako has been training too. We're in a good state of health and ready to continue our preparations for South Africa," Gustard added.
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