England team news: Joe Marler a late doubt for Rugby World Cup opener against Tonga

Marler remains in contention for selection against Tonga, with Eddie Jones set to name his squad on Friday

Joe Marler has emerged as a concern for England’s opening Rugby World Cup clash against Tonga after missing their Thursday afternoon training session.

Sources close to the squad confirmed that Marler did not train with the rest of the team on Thursday afternoon, with the Harlequins prop instead joining injured duo Jack Nowell and Mako Vunipola in a low-intensity sprint session. The 29-year-old did not emerge for the start of England’s training session in Sapporo, and when he did finally appear he remained separated from the rest of the squad, raising serious concerns over his fitness ahead of Sunday’s clash.

With Vunipola already ruled out of the opening pool games against Tonga and the USA, the loss of Marler would leave England short on options at loosehead prop, with only Ellis Genge available to start. Luke Cowan-Dickie, the Exeter Chiefs hooker, would be able to cover loosehead if needed having played there when he was younger.

It is not known why Marler sat out training, though England did train earlier in the day as Thursday was Eddie Jones’s designated double-session day.

It’s also understood that Marler remains in contention for selection against Tonga, with Jones set to name his squad in the early hours of Friday morning.

Speaking earlier on Thursday afternoon, assistant coach John Mitchell confirmed that both Joe Cokanasiga and Mark Wilson are back at full fitness after overcoming knee injuries earlier in the week, and it’s understood both played a full part in training to put themselves in contention for Sunday’s encounter.

“Basically, Joe Cokanasiga trained yesterday as well as Wilson,” Mitchell said. “The team will be selected on Friday. Those two in particular we were talking about the other day are back in training.

“Mako and Jack Nowell are on target for later in the tournament.”

Nowell went through a lengthy sprint session as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery, with the wing still on target to return for the second half of the pool stage. Vunipola, who underwent hamstring surgery last May and aggravated the scar tissue in last month’s warm-up victory over Ireland, is also targeting a return for the third pool game against Argentina after completing a live scrummaging session with the rest of the squad this week.