HASKELL MISSES OUT AS ENGLAND LOOK TO FUTURE
UNDERHILL AND CURRY TWINS GIVEN CHANCE AT THE EXPENSE OF UNDERPERFORMING LION The waiting game was killing me Drinkwater’s delayed Blues debut
JAMES HASKELL was today dumped by head coach Eddie Jones from an England squad shaped by disciplinary and injury problems for next month’s autumn Tests.
Only last summer, the 32-year-old Wasps flanker — who has won 75 England caps — was part of the drawn Lions series in New Zealand, having been brought in to replace Saracens’ Billy Vunipola, who had to withdraw to undergo shoulder surgery.
However, the emergence of Bath’s Sam Underhill and Sale twins Tom and Ben Curry has increased the pressure on Haskell and now the young back-row guns have been given a chance to impress in the Old Mutual Wealth series matches against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.
Jones saw Haskell at the weekend and said this morning: “I had chat with him. At the moment he is just not playing well enough, but the door is never shut on him and we know he is a great player. I am sure he can regain his form.”
Other changes have been forced on Jones by poor discipline, with Quins prop Joe Marler last night receiving a three-week ban after striking Wasps lock Will Rowlands with his arm on Sunday. He joins club team-mate and Lions prop Kyle Sinckler, who is serving a seven-week ban for gouging, out of Jones’s plans for now.
Sale wing Denny Solomona has been included, despite being sent home
M Brown (Harlequins), E Daly (Wasps), J May (Leicester), D Solomona (Sale), A Watson (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Leicester), P Francis (Northampton), J Joseph (Bath), A Lozowski (Saracens), H Slade (Exeter), B Youngs (Leicester)
T Curry (Sale), C Ewels (Bath), N Hughes (Wasps), N Isiekwe, M Itoje, G Kruis (all Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins), S Simmonds (Exeter), S Underhill (Bath), D Cole (Leicester), T Dunn (Bath), E Genge (Leicester), J George (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton), M Mullan (Wasps), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Williams (Exeter) Nov 11 v Argentina
Nov 18 v Australia
Nov 25 v Samoa
All Twickenham, 3pm, Sky Sports from a previous squad session after going out drinking with Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi.
Marland Yarde, discipined by Harlequins after missing training, is another to be left out, however, Wasps’ Nathan Hughes, Jones’s first-choice No8, is picked as his two-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Quins youngster Marcus Smith ends before the opening match of the series, against Argentina at Twickenham on November 11.
Jones, however, refused to admonish the guilty men and also sidestepped the debate over Dylan Hartley, who was not banned last night despite being cited for foul play during Northampton’s defeat by Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, prompting claims from Saints he was being unfairly treated.
Jones said: “That is a matter for Northampton and Jim Mallinder has spoken eloquently about it. We don’t have an issue with Dylan at international level. If he does well in camp, he will be captain.
“I cannot control the players at their clubs and when they are available (for England) I will worry about their discipline. How can I control them when I am not coaching them?”
Jones is certain Solomona has learned his lesson, saying: “He has atoned for his mistake and we expect him to follow the team’s culture. We are dealing with humans and they make mistakes. He wants to play for England and understands he did the wrong thing. We had a look at Marland and the number of tries Denny scores is far superior on that wing and he gets the nod.”
With Vunipola and Jack Clifford injured, Jones has opted to give a first call up to Exeter’s Sam Simmons. The 22 year-old has made 27 appearances for his club, scoring 13 tries and was a key member of the side that won the
Premiership last season. Alex Lozowski of Saracens and Northampton’s Piers Francis are in the frame to deputise at No12 for Owen Farrell if Jones decides to rest the Lions star. Also unavailable due to injury are Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Te’o and Tuilagi.
Jones has included 18-year-old Smith and Bath’s Zach Mercer as apprentices in the squad. Neither player will be named in the matchday squads, but will be involved in training.
Jones insists that Smith remains fifth in the pecking order as England No10 and will have to be content with learning his trade for now.
“Apprentices make the tea and get the paper clips,” said Jones. “They will put out the cones, chase the balls and practise at the right times. They have to earn their stripes.
“Marcus is a very good young player who makes good decisions at the line, with good passing and kicking. He has everything to be a good player but has a long way to go physically. We are investing in them.”
The squad travel to Portugal to begin warm-weather training on Sunday.