Wednesday 25 January 2017 10:28, UK
George Kruis says he remains on course to make England's Six Nations opener despite delaying his comeback from injury.
The Saracens forward was pencilled in to return from a fractured cheekbone against Toulon on Saturday until player and club decided against taking a risk.
Kruis instead kept himself fresh for England's warm-weather training camp in Portugal and is confident of reaching peak condition in time for the game against France on February 4.
We got a couple of opinions and decided last weekend was too soon," he said. "We were pushing for it, but it was just too soon.
"It was a four-to-six-week injury. We tried to make it three, four will be this Friday so it's realistic I'll be up for France.
"I'm not doing full contact yet, I'll build towards that at the end of the week. A week makes a big difference in a four-week injury. Fitness-wise I've been able to train fully for three weeks. Sometimes you need some players who are fresh."
Dylan Hartley has also been building fitness in Portugal after more than six weeks without club rugby following his suspension for striking.
Eddie Jones has repeatedly challenged Hartley to prove he is in condition to start against France, but there are currently no indications the England coach will look elsewhere for a captain.
Jones' side will be defending the title they won, along with a Grand Slam, in 2016 and Kruis said: "It's definitely going to be harder to win this time because teams try and figure you out.
"We've been together for a year and a half and other teams think they've got a grasp of you, so you've always got to stay ahead of the curve. Everyone wants to try and beat the champs."
