Solomona earns autumn recall as Harlequins flyer Yarde misses out
SALE Sharks wing Denny Solomona has been recalled by Eddie Jones just two months after being ejected from camp for latenight drinking.
Exeter back row Sam Simmonds is also selected but the 75-cap Wasps veteran James Haskell, 32, has been dropped for the autumn schedule.
Jones said of Solomona: “He’s a human being. Everyone makes mistakes, he made a mistake, he’s atoned for it and we’re expecting him to follow the team’s culture which he will.
“We’re dealing with young humans and they make mistakes but he wants to play for England, he understands he’s done the wrong thing and I don’t think he’ll do it again.
“We had a look at Marland (Yarde) in regards to Denny (Solomona) and the number of tries that Denny has scored is far superior to Marland and we want a try scorer on that wing so Denny gets the nod.”
Regarding his back row selection, Jones added: “I went up and had a chat to him (Haskell) on Saturday,” Jones said. “At the moment he’s just not playing well enough but the door’s not shut on him.
“We know he’s a great player and has been a great servant for English rugby and I’m sure he’ll regain his form.”
“Simmonds has done really well for Exeter. He’s a good young player and what I like about him more is his work off the ball. He runs good support lines, he’s very good defensively. Everyone talks about the tries he’s scored but that’s a small part of his game. He’s got good acceleration and he might add something to our back row.
“He’s also one of the players who could possibly play six, seven or eight so it gives us that utility value.”
Hooker Dylan Hartley was also selected after a citing against him was dismissed on Wednesday.
Two ‘apprentice’ players – Bath flanker Zach Mercer and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith – have been included in the squad to assist the players prepare.
Jones added: “They’ll make the tea, get people’s boots, put out the cones, chase balls and practise a little bit at the right time. But they’ve got to earn their stripes.
“He (Smith) is still the fifth choice but a very good young player. He’s courageous, makes good decisions at the line, he’s got a good passing, kicking, running game. He’s got everything there is to be a good player.
“But he’s got to learn about the game, he’s got a long way to go physically, Mercer’s a bit the same, but natural attributes are outstanding.
“He’s got good feet, a reasonable feel for the game, needs to work harder off the ball but he’s definitely worth investing in.
“They’re the future of English rugby. Now whether their future’s the 2019 World Cup will be dependent on their progress, how hard they work and how much they keep their feet on the ground.”