Jones needs to feed off the last World Cup, not plan for the next one My England squad for this year’s Six Nations

Continuity is the key for England coach in Six Nations after the positives of tournament in Japan

Six Nations tournaments straight after World Cups always have a bit of a different feel to them. Teams are often in transition; either coaches have moved on, or coaching set-ups have been tweaked or overhauled. Senior players have retired from international duty. Others have been ushered into retirement. There are the accumulated knocks of an already long campaign.

You tend to see plenty of new faces, new trends, new styles. I have no doubt this tournament will be the same. I am just not sure we will see much of that from England. Nor should we.

Eddie Jones names his squad for the tournament a week tomorrow and I think he should resist the temptation to tweak too much. There is no denying the World Cup final defeat was a bitter disappointment and England will want to get that taste out of their mouths straight away. But overall, they had a very positive experience in Japan.

This is a time to build on that tournament. It is not about the World Cup in four years. It is about the here and now. It is about this England team taking the next step in their journey. Evolution not revolution.

Forwards

Dan Cole, Luke CowanDickie,

Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Mark Wilson, Alex Dombrandt

Backs

seeing Elliot Daly go back to his first love. He has never quite convinced as a world-class full-back. But with Anthony Watson back and in form in Japan, perhaps he could play 15 and Daly 13. Jonathan Joseph is another option, as is Alex Lozowski of Saracens. I think he has genuine quality.

In the forwards, front row will be an area Eddie will be keen to sort, particularly after what happened in the final. England will want to make a statement in terms of scrummaging in their first match against France. It will not be easy. If there is one team who will pressurise England up front, and on the gain line, it is France. With Shaun Edwards installed, England can expect a serious test in Paris, but they have the personnel to do it.

They had an off night in Yokohama, but they are a quality team. The injury to Kyle Sinckler early in that final clearly disrupted England’s flow. I am sure the Harlequins prop will be back in at tight head, with Harry Williams and Dan Cole as backup. I do not think Cole’s England days are over. He can still do a job and has huge experience to pass on to the next generation.

At loosehead, does Eddie go with Mako Vunipola or Joe Marler? Both will get a go, while Ellis Genge is the type of player Eddie will want to see come through. A charismatic figure who has high game involvement.

There is not much wrong with England’s second row or back row. Players such as Joe Launchbury, who did not get a lot of rugby in Japan, will have a point to prove and I am looking forward to seeing him prove it. But I do not think Eddie will stray too far from tried and trusted combinations.