England Head Coach Eddie Jones has retained 26 players to prepare for England’s Old Mutual Wealth Series match against Argentina at Twickenham Stadium (KO Saturday 3pm, Sky Sports)
Backs
Fullbacks
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Inside backs
Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Forwards
Back five
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby).
Front row
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Are there any surprise omissions?
Tom Curry over Sam Simmonds is slightly surprising for me, perhaps explained by that footage of Robshaw packing down at No 8 in training this week.
Otherwise it’s not a huge shock to see Francis, Solomona, Isiekwe, Mercer, Ewels and Dunn released.
I just don´t see Robshaw as an 8 at international level. Much as I admire his qualities, he is a decent rather than a fearsome ball carrier and lacks real acceleration from a standing start. I suppose if you have Itoje or Lawes packing down at 6 you might get away with it, but it smacks of a stop-gap solution. Hoping that Harry Williams gets a good run out and makes an impression as we have a real lack of depth at tight head if Coles gets injured. Not sure what Lozowski is doing there. A decent player, but alongside the rest of this backline where you play him? Slade needs to demonstrate that he is consistent rather than occasionally inspired.
Robshaw won’t be playing eight. It’s almost certainly just them running him their in training as he will be covering the position if Hughes comes off. No way in hell Jones wouldn’t start Hughes.
I think that too Jay, but I would not want to see him there even if Hughes comes off. He is settled, confident and playing well at six. Why start messing him about when there are better options?
Correct. Robshaw has not the qualities of an 8. I reckon he should go lock anyway.
Isn’t it the case that Jones doesn’t see another like-for-like cover for Hughes, so the team balance swings somewhat and Robshaw is only injury cover.
So that’s Dunn, Ewels, Isiekwe, Simmonds, Francis and Solomona out. I think.
Seems about right to me. Robshaw does appear to be covering 8 in that case.
Interesting that late call up Roko is stuck with but Solomona gone. Quite pleased about that.
Yeah I don’t want to come across as bitter but there is just something about Solomona that I’m not a fan of.
I agree Jake. He seems a bit of a chancer to me. I’m not sure how much he understands the union game and ,even though he is a brilliant finisher you don’t carry passengers at this level. I hope Roko has a good game and if he does, i hope EJ sticks by him.
Good to see many of the players who have taken part in the last few tours being selected, with a spattering of new and exciting talent. Aiming for improvement whilst keeping consistency perhaps.
For me the only one that seems odd is Curry over Simmonds. Having no real 8 cover on the bench is a worry for me at this level. I haven’t seen much of Curry apart from on the summer tour but, I have seen plenty of Simmonds and what he can do with ball in hand. Robshaw is a very good player, but not someone I want to see covering 8. He does not have the speed and tackle breaking ability to be a covering 8 for the second best team in the World. Simmonds is still a raw talent but what he could bring to England for the last 20 minutes could not be matched by Robshaw or Curry in my opinion.
Also very glad to see Roko retained and not Solomona!!!!!!!!
I don’t actually think we’ll see Curry on the bench, he’s still retained all 4 locks and I think he’ll just have Itoje/Lawes covering back row – hence the need to be prepared to shuffle Robshaw across if needed.
Tom Curry is clearly a player he likes though, and is a very good talent. Realistically, only injury will withdraw Hughes from the game so hopefully we won’t have to see Robshaw there!
Agree on Roko too. Reinforced my thoughts that Jones really sees Solomona as a bit of a project player and isn’t so sure about playing him yet.
Agree with you about Lawes and Itoje covering back row, but would still rather see someone who can cover 8 on the bench rather than having Robshaw there.
I agree with you on that. I also see far more value in Simmonds getting 20 minutes of international rugby than, say, Kruis getting a run out in the second half. Still, Jones knows and trusts those 4 locks so I just can’t imagine him dropping one from the 23.