Eddie Jones said in the summer that the squad he’d pick for the Autumn Internationals would be one with an eye on the future. He said he’d be resting his British & Irish Lions and testing out the youth to see how good England’s depth really is.
However, in a surprising U-turn the Australian has included all 10 of England’s Lions in the squad, and most look set to start on Saturday against Argentina at Twickenham.
Eddie Jones did a u-turn and picked his strongest squad
Even Ellito Daly was picked, as he just about recovered from his injury in time. Daly, who took a full part in training on Tuesday, 10 days after damaging knee ligaments, is retained in a 26-man squad along with Anthony Watson. Both players are likely to start after Denny Solomona, along with 6 others, was sent home from the provisional squad.
Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje had a light training session compared with the rest of the squad, but it isn’t thought they have any injury doubts. Their Saracens team-mates George Kruis, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George, are also retained. Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes and Jonathan Joseph have also made the cut in what is the strongest squad available to Jones.
Itoje had a light training session but there are no worries over his fitness
Jones had claimed some of his Lions were “off the pace”, singling out Lawes, and only last week he remarked they were “badly deconditioned”. Itoje played 34 matches last season and started Saracens’ first eight matches of this campaign, while Daly made 36 appearances last term and, considering the diagnosis of his knee injury made him a doubt for the whole series. Jones added last week: “They’ve come off a tough Lions tour and had a short pre-season so they have missed a whole chunk of preparation time.”
Daly and Watson look set to play as Johnny May is struggling with a hamstring, so Semesa Rokoduguni has been drafted in for cover there, but the Lions duo should make the starting line-up. Vunipola, George and Cole will also all definitely make the squad, with only six front rows retained.
Rokoduguni has been retained as cover for Johnny May
After being recalled to the England squad, Solomona is the most surprising omission. Piers Francis also makes way with Alex Lozowski, who is preferred as an option at either 10 or 12. Nick Isiekwe and Charlie Ewels didn’t make the cut as England have an embarrassment of riches in the second row. Unsurprisingly, uncapped trio of Tom Dunn, Zach Mercer and Sam Simmonds also return to their clubs, but I do think they’re close to earning a first cap.
The England coach will trim his squad by three more on Thursday with Johnny May expected to be retained if fit. One second row will probably be dropped and with one of Joe Launchbury or George Kruis expected to be sent home, while Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes expected to be retained.
Launchbury or Kruis could be sent back when the squad is trimmed further
Of the centres, if any are sent back to their club, it would probably be Henry Slade, but it will be a tight decision for Jones. The back row seems a pretty straightforward choice: Chris Robshaw and Nathan Hughes bringing experience with youngsters Sam Underhill and Tom Curry battling it out for the No7 jersey. Ben Youngs is expected to get the nod at scrum-half, as is Mike Brown at full-back with Jones appearing to choose his strongest squad available to him.
It’s a strong squad and somewhat unexpected, after Jones’ statement in the summer. An about-turn for whatever reason, however, is probably a wise decision. Youngsters will get their chance when ready. England are on a run and have only been beaten once sine the RWC 2015. Maintaining a winning mentality and impressing doubt into opponents is as important as blooding youngsters. Either way, England have strength in depth, and it seems like exciting times could be ahead for Eddie and his boys, starting with a win against Argentina on Saturday.
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