Eddie Jones has announced his 33-man squad for the Old Mutual Wealth Series against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.
The 33 players will fly to Portugal on Sunday 30 October for a week of specific training before returning to England’s base at Pennyhill Park to prepare for the opening game against South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 12 November (kick off 2.30pm, live on Sky Sports).
With 10 players unavailable through injury, Jones has named six uncapped players in the squad. Tight-head prop Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) joins back-row forward Nathan Hughes (Wasps) and second-row Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) in the forwards. Wing Mike Haley (Sale Sharks), fly–half Alex Lozowski (Saracens) and centre Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) are included in the backs.
After recovering from a lengthy injury, wing Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) returns to the England set-up, as do back-row forwards Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) and second-row Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby).
“With a number of influential players missing through injury we have two weeks to prepare a robust and resilient team to meet the challenges set for us in the Old Mutual Wealth Series.” said England head coach Jones.
“Our training camp in Portugal is a great opportunity to spend a week together, focus on putting our game plans in place and for new players to understand the England way.
“We’re looking forward to being back in front of a passionate Twickenham crowd and I’m confident we can prepare well and put together a matchday 23 which is full of pride, energy and commitment to give South Africa the game of their lives.”
33-man squad for Old Mutual Wealth Series
Forwards
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for George Kruis (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for James Haskell (Wasps)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins) *injury replacement for Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Injured players not considered for selection:
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Sam Jones (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)
I find it staggering that Saints have as many players in the EPS as Wasps and that Quins outnumber us! Tom Wood? Really? The only thing that guy is world class in is moaning. But the real kick in the nuts as a Wasps fan is that neither of our 9s are in the squad. So another series of the Can’s pass/ Can’t kick combo of Youngs and Care respectively. I was resigned to Youngs being the starting 9 but had hoped Robson would be introduced during the series. How Youngs can be considered with his erratic passing is beyond me. almost cost us vs Wales in 6n, and it was on display again in Tiger’s win over Racing.
Very disappointed.
I hadn’t even clocked that Robson was not on the list – that really really surprises me! Was so distracted by Tom Wood’s name there. Even as a Tiger ‘s supporter who is a big fan of Youngs, I have to admit Robson has been the best 9 in the premiership so far this year.
As a Saints fan I totally agree, this squad looks more Lancastrian than ever
Wood and Harrison are horribly out of form, May has hardly played for 10 months, We have 4-5 flyhalves for some strange reason and there is a Rugby league player in the centres who has yet to impress in the premiership.
Most disappointing of all is the Robson ommission
I don’t understand how Robson is left out, but we feel the need for Lozowski in the squad when we already have, Ford, Farrell, Slade and Goode who could all potentially cover fly half. Two scrum halves, but as you say 4-5 fly halves?
Looks to me like Eddie has hit the panic button with Wood and Morgan in there?
Tom Wood. I am actually pretty shocked by that. Called ‘distinctly average’ by Jones and has hardly been brilliant recently for Saints. Would have thought Will Welch, Guy Thompson or Brendon O’Connor might have got a shot ahead of him.
Oh well – best of luck to him!
I am devastated that Tom “The Coach Whisperer” Woods is even near the group. They do need whingers to hold bags though so at least he will serve some purpose.
Wood and Morgan!!!!! Blimey we really are short of back rowers!!!!! Why not Beaumont, Kvesic, Thompson or Wallace?
No Robson at scrum half, but Lozowski is in as a back up fly half? So Sarries get a replacement for Hodgson for when Faz is on international duty and he gets selected as well!?!?!?!
Haven’t seen enough of T’eo to make a decision on whether he’s good enough?
Nice to see Mike Haley and Tommy Taylor in there though.
Based on this selection and the shortness of form of some of the players selected, (Hartley!!) I would pick the following.
1. M.Vunipola
2. George
3. Cole
4. Laucnhbury
5. Attwood
6. Hughes
7. Robshaw
8. B. Vunipola
9. Care
10. Ford
11. Yarde
12. Farrell
13. Daly
14. Roko
15. Goode
16. Taylor
17. Genge
18. Sinckler
19. Lawes
20. Harrison
21. Youngs
22. JJ
23. Brown
Well Saracens shouldn’t employ such decent replacements if they don’t want to lose them to England!
Still, not entirely sure what he’s doing there since Ford, Farrell and Slade are already in the team and Goode could play fly-half at a pinch
Like everyone I can’t understand the selection of Wood over far more worthy backrowers such as those named above – I’d throw Jackson Wray in there as well as being better than Wood.
Morgan I don’t mind as he always seemed to up his game significantly for England. He has great hands and is a clever player.
Te’o hasn’t made any kind of impact yet. Would far rather see the likes of Mallinder or Addison given a chance
May is a strange choice when you’ve got Wade ready and raring to go – its not as if May’s defence is that much better than Wade’s!
And finally, the absence of Robson is just baffling
This strikes me as a defensive squad designed not to lose – if you know what I mean
Ha ha!! I’m pretty sure the Sarries coaches didn’t expect Lozowski to be in the first England squad named after his team debut. I don’t think he’s going to be in the 23 squad at all (unless Ford or Farrell gets injured as well!!!!!).
Didn’t even think about Jackson Wray. Maybe because I was being selfish and don’t want to lose any more players than we already have.
I don’t think Mallinder is ready yet, but someone like Sam Hill, Nick Tomkins or Joe Marchant would be worth a shout.
And May????? Again like Wood I just don’t understand.
Given his choices over the wider squad, I would not surprised (though very disheartened) to see the following:
1) Marler
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Lawes
5) Launchbury
6) Robshaw
7) Wood
8) Billy V
9 Youngs
10) ford
11) May
12) Farrell
13) JJ
14) Yarde
15) Brown
16) George
17) Mako
18) Genge
19) Ewels/ Attwood
20) Hughes
21) Morgan/ Harrison
22) Care
23) Slade/ Daly
Think he’ll 6/2 split for SA.
I really hope he doesn’t pick Robshaw and Wood!! We really would be back to square one. It would be so disappointing if at the first major injury hurdle Eddie reverted to Lancastrian ways and just tried his hardest not to lose, rather than carrying on in trying our best to win.
I’m almost surprised Tom Youngs isn’t back in the squad!!!!
(I would rather see Tom Youngs back in the squad as a flanker than Wood…)
Maybe I’m being overtly negative. If he wants to out muscle the Boks, Hughes at 6 with Robshaw at 7 would be the way to go, and he kind of gave himself some wiggle room on Robshaw being 7 in the press conference.
That’s what Stuart Barnes seems to think he will do – but play the right/left flanker thing he did with Itoje rather than openside/blindside (Hughes wearing 7).
He named checked Harrison again as someone who really impressed the other week – could see him getting another chance.
Interesting we haven’t talked about Charlie Ewels much, he is actually in the squad as an original pick, not an injury replacement, so I would expect him to be fighting for a starting place/bench spot ahead of Attwood?
The biggest surprise for me in that would be Marler over Mako. I cannot see any version of events where Mako isn’t starting for us. He’s the man in possession given Marler’s absence from the Aus tour, and is in the absolute form of his life – even Marler thinks so (check out his tweet re Mako from Saturday).
Despite posts above, and form, I agree with you that I can’t see George starting at Hartley’s expense unless Dylan really underperforms in Portugal. We’ve already had to make 3 changes to the pack through injury. That said, I think this one is a massive call either way – George is on fire but Hartley has been outstanding as England captain. A lot better than I thought he’d be to be honest. That doesn’t even mention the man that Jones himself said was the form hooker a few weeks ago in Tommy Taylor who’s fit again after his minor knock.
Attwood could be a good option v SA over Lawes. He’s less mobile than Lawes but is more powerful in the set piece which could well matter. For the other tests, I’d prefer to see Lawes in there though.
Wood / Robshaw would just be plain disappointing as you guys have already said.
There was an interesting chat on rugby tonight yesterday about the wingers and why May is probably going to start (he’s the only one that actually plays on the left…)
At the moment I would probably have Genge on the bench before Marler. His head still doesn’t seem to be in the right place at the moment and Genge is constantly improving. Mako, George and Cole would be a great all round front row, but Genge, Taylor and Sinckler would be a very mobile front row unit!!!!
May on the left wing is a good point. Watson and Nowell have been swapped around and could cover both, but without either of them, we don’t have many other natural left wingers…………although Josh Bassett is on fine form for Wasps at the moment, and is 100% fit.
Bassett is great, but alas, caught is foot on the abysmal turf at the Stade Ernest Wallon while scoring at the weekend, and is going to be out for a couple of weeks at least.
That really is a shame, looks like a promising player though. Wonder if he’ll keep his spot once Wasps are up to full quota?
Bassett has been great – and has been keeping Halai out of the team recently. Once Beale and Le Rouw come in, I still see him just competing with Halai for that 11 shirt so I think we’ll see him continue to get a lot of game time.
Thought Beaumont may get the nod
Biggest surprise for me.. no Paul Hill, so only two tight heads.
Also, who are Saracens going to play at FH with Farrell, Lozowski and Goode away with England?
Lozowski is unlikely to make the match day 23 for England so will be released back to Saracens to play for them.
Yes that’s likely. I was thinking more about the weekend of 5th Nov (when they might still be in Portugal), but that’s an Anglo-Welsh cup weekend so some academy kids will play anyway.
I’m glad there is no Paul Hill he is a good scrimmager but not much more than that and is prone to mistakes. There is a reason he is second choice to Brookes at Saints. Most squads only have 5 props
As a neutral I need to say, although a lot of the selections are disappointing ( Wood in particular) Jones is they guy who aimed for a 3-0 win in Australia during the summer and we all laughed at him (Most English fans included) but in the end he got the result,he know’s what he’s doing. If results in autumn go arse up then we can question him but til then we should all have faith in what Jones does, I predict come the end of November he will have got the desired results and he will be seen as a god.
I dont think Wood’s 42 caps should be underestimated. we have a lot of injuries and a fair few debut or low cap players in the squad. Assuming Hughes or Harrison start in the backrow, i’d feel a lot better having an experienced player (Wood or Morgan) on the bench to replace them if things dont go to plan early on. Especially when it’s unlikely of our captain making it to the field, let alone a full match
+1. I don’t think we should under-estimate how much the SA game matters to EJ. He’s proven England can beat Aus in their back yard; now he needs to prove that we can beat SA if we are to be credible challengers (in the future) to the ABs. I seem to remember similar moaning when his first selections were made: they were too conservative, we didn;t have a true 7/jackal, what about Cips etc. I think he proved his critics wrong. EJ clearly values international experience and players with a bit of dog/grit/ whatever (which is why Brown will play and not Goode). He’s without his first choice second row, one flanker and both wings so needs to call on experience and maintain the winning combonations he has left. That said, he has a great second choice second row and arguably Roko is the in form flanker right now, so he should weather the injury storm. If he plays Harrison again, he needs to be able to replace him with someone who can deal with the Saffas who will understandably target the new boys. Don’t forget that Wood can cover the entire back row and offers another line out option. He also knows (like the second rowers) that he needs to up his game if he’s going to remain in contention for the shirt. For what it’s worth I think Robson is unlucky but I reckon both Youngs and Care will be feeling the pressure.
England should be expecting to beat this current SA side despite all the injuries.
You mean Roko as in Rokoduguni the winger? Would be something to see him playing as a flanker.
Good point, well made. Can’t quite see EJ mixing things up that much! Although Austin Healey thought Jack Nowell would make a good 7!
I reckon Barritt should get recalled and play at 6 with Robshaw at 7!! He always plays like an extra flanker anyway.
I genuinely cannot stand Tom Wood. The guy came out days after the world cup and suggests he would take over as captain, and assumes he is a senior enough player to guarantee him a jersey. He is not what England needed then and he isn’t what they need now. All that on top of being ‘distinctly average’ and not offering much on the field.
No he didn’t, that was shitstirring from the sub-editor. A journalist asked him if he would be willing to be captain if Robshaw were dropped: “Wood offered his support to the Harlequins flanker, but asked whether he would accept the captaincy if the chance arose, the forward said: ‘We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it. If I was asked to do it for the benefit of the team, I’d consider it very carefully and probably front up.
‘I haven’t been asked and I don’t resent that. I love playing for England and take every opportunity as it comes.’
I’m as baffled as anyone by the inclusion of Wood. I can only assume (dangerous,I know) that EJ is wanting his experience given the novice status of Hughes and Harrison. However that does not explain the omission of Kvesic again.
It’s difficult to be over critical given England’s resurgence under Edward so perhaps the wisest course is to put up and shut up for now. What really intrigues me is who EJ will bring in should any of the chosen forwards be stricken by the current injury curse haunting the hallowed halls of HQ between now and the start of the AI’s?
The other point of note,already picked up by other commentators is the readiness of Te’o for Int’l duty. It seems likely he’ll start against the ‘boks given Farrell’s excellence at ten this year.
One more: Is Sinckler really a better bet than Hill,Brookes and / or Cooper Woolley?
No chance Teo will start. We will see Ford & Farrell again, given the amount of change he has already been forced to make he won’t throw in a newbie at 12 especially seeing as it ain’t currently broke
Sinkler is better than Hill around the park and not as lazy defensively as Brookes not sure about Cooper-Wooley
Agree. Ford has been in really good form since the start of the season so would hope EJ accommodates both of them and sticks with them for 10-12. If it aint broke…
Also Sinckler has been on fantastic form for Quins – a human wrecking ball
In reply to comments about Glos players, can report that Kvesic is out of form at the moment, but Morgan is actually playing reasonably well. Not as good as he was before he was injured, but good enough to warrant a call up imo. May – bit soon after injury, but if firing he is a potent weapon. Jury is out as to whether he needs more game time.
Kvesic may well be out of form, but probably no more than Wood. Wood has made it on on experience and nothing else. Personally without Kvesic or Wallce called up I would rather take a chance on Hughes at 6 with Robshaw and Billy. We have enough players who regularly compete at turnover time not to worry about fetchers etc. Morgan is a good 8, but I’ve never seen him play at 6 or 7?
Dazzle, agreed on all points. I guess Wood is back in because of his experience rather than form. Morgan is a straight back up for Billy, rather than a back row cover.
Sorry – Dazza! Combination of auto correct and not reading my post well!
No problem!! What I’ve seen of Morgan lately he is applying very well. I still think that Hughes will be the most likely back up for Billy, but I can see them both playing at 6 and 8 as well.
the Robson omission is particularly disappointing but i would also include Cirpriani.I have no idea what he has to do to get selected
Cipriani needs to control the game better. His blunder on Wasps own try line last weekend was a prime example of why Jones won’t pick him. There’s a time and place to try and chip over your opponent and run the ball and under pressure own your own try line is not the time or place.
Unfortunate because he could be a massive benefit to the team in other areas, but moments like that do not help his cause.