In-form Ben omitted from Jones’ squad

ENGLAND have left Ben Spencer out of their 26-man training squad for a three-day camp that will continue preparations for a busy autumn schedule.

Spencer has been outstanding for Bath since lockdown, but Eddie Jones has overlooked the ex-Saracens half-back in favour of Ben Youngs, Alex Mitchell and Gloucester’s Willi Heinz.

Jones has been able to select players from losing Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists Bath, plus Sale and Worcester, whose rearranged match last week was cancelled because of an outbreak of coronavirus at the Sharks.

Bath are well represented in the squad that will train in London, although they supply five of seven ‘reconditioning’ players.

A surprise call-up is centre Tom de Glanville, son of ex-England captain Phil, but there is no place for his team-mates Ruaridh McConnochie or Joe Cokanasiga.

McConnochie’s snub comes despite his try-scoring efficiency this season, but Cokanasiga is on the comeback trail from a serious knee injury and needs more game time.

England’s autumn opens with the non-cap international against the Barbarians on Sunday week and continues against Italy in Rome six days later when the delayed 2020 Six Nations will be brought to a conclusion.

Those games act as the curtain raiser to the Autumn Nations Cup, which has replaced the end of season tours from the southern hemisphere.

T Curry (Sale), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), T Dunn (Bath), E Genge (Leicester), J George (Saracens), J Heyes (Leicester), T Hill (Worcester), M Itoje (Saracens), S Kerrod (Harlequins), B Obano (Bath), D Ribbans (Northampton), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Wilson (Newcastle). A Crossdale (Saracens), E Daly (Saracens), T de Glanville (Bath), F Dingwall (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Leicester), W Heinz (Gloucester), O Lawrence (Worcester), J Marchant (Harlequins), J May (Gloucester), A Mitchell (Northampton), O Thorley (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester).

C Ewels, J Joseph, W Stuart, S Underhill, A Watson (all Bath), J Marler (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens).