EDDIE’S BLOODBATH
New England coach ditches host of World Cup flops
EDDIE JONES will today confirm a cull of leading players from the England rugby squad which failed to qualify for the knockout stages of last year’s home World Cup.
The Australian, who succeeded Stuart Lancaster as coach, has opted for a shake-up just weeks after taking charge. Lancaster’s captain, Chris Robshaw, will retain his place in the squad of 33 to be revealed at Twickenham, but Tom Wood, Brad Barritt, Geoff Parling and Ben Morgan are expected to be among many prominent casualties. Joe Marler, who has established himself as England’s first-choice loosehead prop in recent years, is also in jeopardy.
Luther Burrell, left out of the World Cup to make way for Sam Burgess, is set to be overlooked, and Danny Cipriani has again missed out.
Jones has chosen to recall Dylan Hartley and Manu Tuilagi from disciplinary exile, and there could be seven uncapped players named today: Josh Beaumont, Jack Clifford, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto, Will Fraser, Paul Hill and Maro Itoje.
MARO ITOJE will lead a cavalry charge of seven uncapped youngsters into the England squad today as Eddie Jones instigates a momentous post-World Cup overhaul.
Saracens’ 21-year-old lock, who can also operate at blindside flanker, is set to be included in a 33-man group for the Six Nations along with another versatile forward — Sale’s Josh Beaumont, son of RFU chairman Bill Beaumont.
Harlequins back- rower Jack Clifford is another fresh face destined to appear in the ranks along with Saracens openside Will Fraser, Wasps centre Elliot Daly and emerging Northampton prop Paul Hill.
Jones will confirm the return of Dylan Hartley and Manu Tuilagi and a recall for the country’s supreme finisher, Chris Ashton. But four mainstays of the Stuart Lancaster era — Tom Wood, Brad Barritt, Geoff Parling and Ben Morgan — are expected to be omitted, and there is no place for Danny Cipriani or Luther Burrell.
Itoje has been regarded for some time as an emerging sensation. The former Harrow School pupil was captain of the England Under 20 side who won the junior World Cup in 2014 and he burst to wider prominence for Saracens late last season. He was picked in Lancaster’s initial 50-man World Cup training squad before being released in the first cut.
If there was a sense last summer that he wasn’t quite ready for Test rugby, that is no longer the case. Itoje said: ‘Given the opportunity, I think I would do well. I am confident in my ability. If I am put in that situation I think I will give a good account of myself.’
Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby, believes the rookie has the temperament to cope with a Test call- up despite concerns about the clamour for him to be promoted and even made captain.
‘He’s ready to play and I think he can play international rugby but there are some good second rows in the country,’ he said. ‘People have got to remember that he’s only been doing this for six months. He’s dealt with every next step really well, but it’s easy to forget that he was our A-team captain really last year and he only became a first-team regular at the end of March, early April.
‘He has brought real consistency to his performances. He makes things happen on and off the ball. His lineout intellect and knowledge is growing, but he’s a young player and people have to realise that there’s more to come.’
Part of Itoje’s development has been learning to cope with mental pressure. From school rugby all the way through until this season, he was consumed by pre-match nerves. ‘I can now relax a lot more,’ he said. In the past I was very nervous and agitated before kickoff. My first game was for St George’s School Under 11s against Haberdashers and I couldn’t sleep before the game. It’s something I’ve definitely got a lot better at. I think I am comfortable with senior rugby now.’
Reflecting on his three weeks in the England training camp last summer, Itoje added: ‘I learned a lot about myself. I felt comfortable in that environment. I didn’t feel that I was out of my depth in any way, so it was a good experience.’
Despite missing out on a place in Jones’ first England squad, Kyle Eastmond has turned down a return to rugby league and signed a new two-year deal with Bath. Sportsmail understands the 26-year-old centre was approached by Warrington Wolves, who were ready to offer a route back to the Super League after four years in union, but the dual-code international claims to have unfinished business after failing to make the World Cup cut.
‘When I set out to come to rugby union, I came for the long term,’ Eastmond told Sportsmail. ‘I’ve still got goals that I want to achieve.’ Northampton announced yesterday that England and Lions prop Alex Corbisiero has left the club with immediate effect, having announced that he is to take a year’s break from rugby following his latest injury setback.
Former England defence coach Andy Farrell has taken up a shortterm advisory role with Munster before joining Ireland’s management team for the summer tour to South Africa.