Form guide: How well are Eddie’s first XV really playing?
By Charlie Morgan
Out of their skin Owen Farrell
The centre (left), who even weighed in with breakdown turnovers during the win over Wales, is becoming almost concerningly pivotal to England – as close to indispensable as a player can be under Eddie Jones.
Jonny May
It is a mark of May’s progress that the Leicester Tiger (left) retains his starting place ahead of Jack Nowell. As well as finishing chances, he has hunted involvements around the pitch.
As expected Jonathan Joseph
Perversely, Joseph’s position is less assured while the forwards battle to punch holes. His defensive decision making remains excellent, but the 26-yearold (right) has had to wrestle the starting berth back from Ben
Te’o already this year.
Maro Itoje
Itoje set almighty standards over the past two seasons. The next stage is to develop his link play and carrying, areas in which worldleading All Black Brodie Retallick excels.
Dan Cole
Cole turns 31 in May, but neither Harry Williams nor Kyle Sinckler are likely to oust him as first-choice starter until at least 2019. He is contributing more prominently in the loose this Six Nations.
Danny Care
After Ford and Hartley, Care (below) is one of a trio to have featured in every match of the Jones era. Although probably more effective when tormenting tired defences from the bench, he keeps England ticking.
Courtney Lawes
His carrying improvements have heightened his value to Jones, while his destructive defence also underpins the way England disrupt opponents. However, the back row still appears slightly unbalanced with three locks in the pack.
All to prove Nathan Hughes
A mere 90 minutes of rugby in three months means Hughes (right) is thrust back in at the deep end and under intense scrutiny, no matter how impressive his displays were in Argentina.
Anthony Watson
Watson (left) picked up a knock and left the field early a fortnight ago. However, he had already underlined his aerial prowess and his electric double against Italy showed why he frightens defenders.
Joe Launchbury
Even given England’s immense depth at lock, Launchbury (left) looks undroppable at the moment. In his muscular, relentless tour de force against Wales, a delicate offload for Jonny May’s try showcased a new dimension.
George Ford
Ford (below) finds another level with England and starts at fly-half for the 25th time under Jones. In the only other game of the Australian’s tenure, in Brisbane, he came on before the half-hour mark.
Dylan Hartley
The captain becomes England second mostcapped player of all time tomorrow. He enjoyed a quietly impressive game in Rome but a head injury assessment and facial cut curtailed his outing against Wales.
Mike Brown
Along with Farrell and Billy Vunipola, Brown (below) was one of three vice-captains in Jones’s first match in 2016. Despite the calls for a more creative full-back, the tenacious Harlequin – a ‘Test match animal’
– endures.
Mako Vunipola
England’s best distributing forward rolled up his sleeves in the wet two weeks ago with a performance of unfussy industry. It will be interesting to see what happens if Joe Marler returns
to form.
Chris Robshaw
Jones prefers his favourite ‘glue player’ at blindside flanker, but trusts Robshaw (below) to tie things together as a tireless, stand-in openside. That is a big endorsement, especially given Sam Underhill’s promise.