Rugby World Cup: Anthony Watson says England will not fear injuries in final warm-up - BBC Sport

Britain back Anthony Watson says England won't fear wounds in their last World Cup warm-facing Italy.

Number eight Billy Vunipola begins for the fourth progressive match and skipper Owen Farrell will play from the start.

The match at St James' Park in Newcastle on Friday is England's last before they travel to Japan on Sunday.

"You can't stress over it and I'm not stressed," said Watson, who makes his first start at full-back for England since Achilles damage in March 2018.

"When you start going into contact at 85% and start stressing over ensuring you jump on the plane on Sunday, you won't play just as you can and you'd most likely get harmed at any rate."

Britain open their World Cup crusade against Tonga on 22 September.

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Wing Jack Nowell will even now travel to Japan in spite of battling with a ruptured appendix and a lower leg damage, while focuses Henry Slade and Jonathan Joseph are as yet recuperating from knee and leg muscle issues separately.

One player who won't be gambled on Friday is focus Manu Tuilagi, with Joe Marchant beginning in spite of not being a piece of the World Cup squad.

Vunipola, who broke his arm multiple times in 2018, is the main player in lead trainer Eddie Jones' 31-man World Cup squad who will have begun each of the four of the late spring Tests, which could be viewed as a hazard given Wales have officially lost beginning fly-half Gareth Anscombe to a warm-up damage.

Be that as it may, Farrell says 26-year-old forward Vunipola would not have any desire to remain uninvolved.

"Billy cherishes being out there, he adores being included," he said. "He's looked in splendid condition. He's been preparing great and playing admirably. It's beneficial for him to get a run out."

Britain started their World Cup arrangements with a persuading triumph against Wales at Twickenham, before losing to similar adversaries the next week. Jones' side recorded their greatest winning edge against Ireland at that point ventured out to Treviso, Italy for a preparation camp.

Friday's match denotes the first run through an England Test will have been played at St James' Park.

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