Jones will keep the faith with tried and tested
DON’T expect too many shocks when Eddie Jones names his England squad for the Six Nations on Friday. There are only 28 places up for grabs, so most will be taken by familiar faces.
Due to stricter Covid bubble arrangements, reduced freedom of movement for the players will lead to reduced flexibility for Jones. Normally, he would pick 32, 34 or 36 players and have scope to rotate his resources.
Jones won’t be releasing players to top up game-time back at their clubs — even those who are short of match sharpness.
He must make his selections and then work with a settled group, unless there are injuryenforced changes.
It is not a time for aspiring Test contenders hoping to force their way into the set-up. That will be a source of frustration for the likes of Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall, Exeter playmaker captain Joe Simmonds, Leicester full-back Freddie Steward, and Wasps’ multi- purpose forward prodigy Alfie Barbeary — although he is injured anway.
Jones can’t include youngsters just to assess them at close quarters. Those chosen must be ready to play.
The loosehead trio of Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler and Ellis Genge is established, while Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie will be the hookers.
But Jones might need to break with recent precedent by choosing a third tighthead prop, as Kyle Sinckler will be unavailable for the opener against Scotland at Twickenham on February 6 after being banned. Will Stuart is next in line, with Harry Williams another likely inclusion.
At lock, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury are certainties, with Launchbury among the form players. There is likely to be a fourth second row — especially as Lawes and Itoje can relocate to blindside — so Jonny Hill may edge out Charlie Ewels.
There is always backrow intrigue given the array of options. The World Cup combination of Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola are nailed- on, while Bristol’s Ben Earl is playing well and offers the ‘ hybrid’ value which the head coach craves.
Jack Willis is the front-runner for what could be one more backrow spot, but Mark Wilson has been outstanding for Newcastle.
England will also rely on versatility among their outside backs. Ben Youngs and Dan Robson are sure to be the scrum-half pair, while Owen Farrell and George Ford are entrenched as the country’s pre- eminent No 10s, although the captain may once again operate at inside centre.
Jones may limit himself to three specialist centres, with Henry Slade able to cover fly-half and full back too at a push, Jonathan Joseph a candidate to start on the wing and Ollie Lawrence providing midfield clout in the absence of Manu Tuilagi.
In the back three, it will be Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson, Jonny May and one other — with Max Malins’ exploits for Bristol perhaps putting him in front of Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley.
So many will lack game-time. The Saracens contingent — bar Billy Vunipola — have not played at all since the Autumn Nations Cup final on December 6 and others have been held back by the cancellation of fixtures.
But Jones will believe that two weeks of high-intensity training can prevent his squad going into the game undercooked.
Whether they can generate cohesion and fluency in camp is another matter entirely.