Wednesday 13 January 2016

Rugby:England head coach Eddie Jones to name first squad

Eddie Jones
England head coach Eddie Jones will name his first elite player squad on Wednesday before next month's Six Nations Championship.

The Australian, who replaced Stuart Lancaster in November following a poor home World Cup, said he will select players who "express themselves".

Jones, 55, wants to increase the tempo of England's game and make them "the most dominant team in the world".

England face Scotland at Murrayfield on 6 February.

The 33-man squad is expected to be announced at 14:00 GMT, although Jones will not reveal his captain for another two weeks.

Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley has been tipped to replace Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw as skipper, despite a poor disciplinary record which cost him a World Cup place under Lancaster.

Sale fly-half Danny Cipriani, 28, - who missed out to Saracens' Owen Farrell and Bath's George Ford in the World Cup squad - will again be overlooked.



A lengthening injury list means Jones will be without Exeter centre Henry Slade and back row Dave Ewers, Bath lock Dave Attwood, Leicester lock Ed Slater, Northampton props Kieran Brookes and Alex Corbisiero, and Gloucester wing Jonny May, for some, or all, of the tournament.

Exeter wing Jack Nowell and Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan should recover from less serious injuries picked up at the weekend, while Saracens lock George Kruis was taken off on a stretcher against Harlequins with concussion.

However Morgan, 26, who started England's opening World Cup match against Fiji, is unlikely to be picked.

Away from fitness issues, there are question marks over several World Cup squad members' inclusion. Saracens centre Brad Barritt, Northampton flanker Tom Wood, Harlequins pop Joe Marler, Exeter lock Geoff Parling and Saracens scrum half Richard Wigglesworth could all be left out as Jones looks to inject more pace into the team.

The 33-man group is very likely to include exciting newcomers Elliot Daly, the Wasps centre, Saracens forward Maro Itoje and Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford.

Exeter back Sam Hill and Sale Sharks number eight Josh Beaumont - son of England's 1980 Grand Slam-winning captain Bill Beaumont - have also been mentioned as potential squad debutants.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilaigi - not considered by Lancaster for the World Cup after an assault conviction - could return after 15 months out with a groin injury.

And Saracens' in-form, prolific try-scorer Chris Ashton, who won the last of his 39 caps in June 2014, plus once-capped winger Semesa Rokoduguni, of Bath, are both thought to be in Jones' plans.

Under Rugby Football Union rules, Jones can change 11 players - including code convert Sam Burgess who left rugby union after the World Cup - from Lancaster's last squad.

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