Mitchell expects Itoje and Vunipola to make ‘good decisions’ over Saracens future

England defence coach John Mitchell expects Saracens duo Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola to make “good decisions” over their futures.

Itoje has been linked with a loan move to Racing 92 and there are no certainties over which club his England team-mate Vunipola will play for next season after Sarries were relegated from the Premiership for breaching salary-cap regulations.

England head coach Eddie Jones is unable to select players based overseas, but Mitchell is confident Itoje and Vunipola will still be available for selection.

The New Zealander said: “I’m sure Eddie, as he is very good at, is guiding them and helping them and they have probably sought his advice.

“They’ve got family and friends and people within Saracens who they trust. 

“I’m quite confident that they will make good decisions, that are right for them and their families and also that are right in terms of playing Test rugby for England because they are two guys who love playing for England.”

Mitchell knows the coaching staff and players must be ready to adapt their methods when rugby union returns after being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The RFU and our medics are working very closely with the government and it’s important I leave it with them,” he added.

“No one knows what the pecking order will be. I guess it’s just sensible that non-contact sports will be the creators of the start, I guess, and we’ll learn from what we experience and what they go through. When we eventually get the green button then we as a coaching group will need to be ready.

“We’re going to have to be creative and innovative around how we do things. A lot of our players are going to be better for this as well because they’ve had to find a way to train with home constraints.

“We are going to have to find different ways to train based on the distancing.”

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