Jones wants quartet to ‘get back to their best’ after snub
Eddie Jones has opened the “last chapter” of his England reign by snubbing four of his most senior players amid a warning they are in danger of missing out on the next World Cup.
For the first time Jones had indicated that he will step down after France 2023, adding that he has “never been so excited in my life” as he builds a team capable of challenging for South Africa’s crown.
Tolaunchthefinalphaseof hisscheduledeight-yearstewardshipatTwickenham,Jones has completed his greatest purge of front-line personnel yet with Billy and Mako Vunipola,JamieGeorgeandGeorge Ford missing from a 45-man training squad that will gather on Sunday for a three-day camp in south west London.
The quartet have paid the price for their modest form and the requirement to remodel the side in time for a competitionthatwillbeJones’ final act with England.
Although each of them could feature in the autumn series that opens against Tonga on November 6 and continues against Australia and South Africa, at the very least they have received a shot across the bows.
“They need to get back to their best. They probably haven’t been at their best over a period of time, so we are giving them the opportunity to find their best,” Jones said.
“They are all good players.
When they are at their best, they are going to be in strong contention. But there’s a lot of good young players coming through so the competition is hot. It’s two years before the WorldCup.Wearenowselecting with that in mind.
“After the Lions tour you draw bit of a line in the sand because then you’re in the lasttwoyearsbeforetheWorld Cup and everything you do counts.”
BillyVunipolahasbeenthe cornerstoneofEngland’sback row since Jones took over in 2016 but is no longer the force that once scattered defenders, while his elder brother Mako had a mixed Lions tour to South Africa.
George is another who failed to make an impact for WarrenGatlandoverthesummer, continuing a slump evident in the Six Nations when
Luke Cowan-Dickie was installed as first choice hooker. Ford is the biggest casualty, however,asoneofJones’most trusted lieutenants loses out to Marcus Smith, who made his debut against USA and is nowchallengingOwenFarrell as chief conductor.