JONES PUTS FAITH IN CROCKED HASKELL
JAMES HASKELL is set to be named in Eddie Jones’s first England squad of the new season – despite being sidelined with a serious toe injury.
The Wasps flanker, who played in the first two Tests of England’s 3-0 whitewash over Australia, is expected to be part of a 45-man party named by Jones tomorrow.
Haskell is out for up to four months after surgery, but could yet be fit for the tail-end of the autumn internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentinaa and the Wallabies.
The 31-year-old has played his best international rugby under Jones and will be given a vote of confidence, despite being crocked.
The group is a provisional Elite Player Squad, which will be finalised in the first week of October, ahead of the Tests in November and December, and will have a two-day training camp in Lon London starting next M Monday. And Jones (left) will chop his squad down to 36 for another training c camp in October, ahead of t the Twickenham clashes againstaga the southern hemisphere sides. The head coach will call up the majority of the heroes from Down Under plus some newcomers from the Saxons, who won 2-0 in South Africa, and the Under-20s, who won the Junior World Cup.
Jones took 33 players to Australia, so there are now another 12 spots up for grabs, with Harlequins prop Joe Marler in the frame for a return.
Saxons, such as Danny Cipriani, Exeter prop Alec Hepburn and Gloucester flanker Matt Kvesic, have given themselves a shout of an upgrade after impressing against South Africa A. Jones said: “A couple of guys will promote themselves. There are areas where we are not where we need to be, but we can make sure the squad is the right one to beat South Africa.”
The bigger squad, and the increased access for Jones, are the result of a £200million agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby.