6N Squad

[fivepointer]

England will retain a 28-player squad throughout the tournament, following an agreement with Premiership Rugby, The RPA and The RFU in recognition of the challenges presented by COVID-19.

The squad will meet up at St. George’s Park, England football’s training base, on Wednesday 27 January. They will then move to their base, The Lensbury in Teddington, ahead of their first game against Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 6 February (4.45pm KO).

Jones said: “This has been a really tough squad to pick and I know there are a lot of disappointed players who haven’t been selected. We’re really excited by the players we have got, it’s a very vibrant squad and are looking forward to getting started next week.

“We’re very grateful to the Premiership Rugby, the clubs and RPA for allowing us to have 28 players throughout the tournament, we’re very happy with the number and it’s testament to the growing relationships between all parties.

“Ultimately our goal is to win the Six Nations and to do that we’ll need to work hard and prepare well each day and take it as it comes.”

Jones has also named a 12-player shadow squad, who will be part of the same testing protocols as the tournament squad. Mako Vunipola will join with the squad to undertake rehab during the tournament.

BACKS
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 47 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 88 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 3 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 61 caps)
Paolo Odogwu (Wasps, uncapped)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 7 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 46 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 104 caps)

FORWARDS
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 26 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 8 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 54 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 43 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 85 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 72 caps)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 22 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 56 caps)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 19 caps)

Shadow squad
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps, uncapped)
Ali Crossdale (Saracens, uncapped)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 54 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps, uncapped)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 2 caps)

[Puja]

No MakoV?

ETA: Ah, specifically mentioned in the blurb. Should learn to read.

Puja

[Shiny]

Oohhhhhh. No Sinckler and Mark Wilson preferred over Jack Willis and Odogwu preferred over Joseph. Some big calls there.

[fivepointer]

Sinckler being left out is a bit of a surprise. Based on his non availability for the first game? Pleased to see Heyes in the shadow squad.
Willis is unlucky but BR is an area of real strength currently.
Delighted Randall is in. Frankly i didnt expect him to be. Why 3 SH's now when the norm has been to name only 2 in a squad?
Atkinson and Umaga ahead of Smith in the shadow squad? Seems harsh to me.
Odogwu is a bit of a punt. He cannot have started more than 20 Premiership games and playing him at centre would be a gamble.
Malins and Lawrence selections are good news.
Shadow squad contains some very good players. Not sure what Crossdale has done to get in but he's obviously has something Jones likes. Thorley must be disappointed.

[Beasties]

Good to see Charlie Atkinson's on Eddie's radar, looks a great prospect. Much as I love Mark Wilson I'm surprised he's there. Good to see Randall in there. Dare I say Eddie's squads are getting slightly less "odd"?

[jngf]

Don’t agree with decision to include Wilson ahead of Willis. The former’s a good team player but nowhere near as talented imo.

I actually think Jones has a slight aversion to picking forwards who have exceptional individual talents - no place for S Simmonds, Dombrandt, Willis moved back down the pecking order and picking some arguably rather mediocre, underpowered locks ahead of Launch until comparatively recently - maybe I’m overreacting or simply expect too much to begin with?

[Digby]

How does the shadow squad work?

[16th man]

Whisper it, but it looks like a squad which isn't particularly committed to having a lock at 6. Though I suppose it only takes an injury to Billy and all of a sudden that's back on the table.

Massive bonus to finally have a young 9 in the squad. Obviously absolutely zero chance of him or Robson getting decent minutes, unless Youngs gets hurt.

Odogwu is a bit of a head scratcher.

[FKAS]

picking some arguably rather mediocre, underpowered locks ahead of Launch until comparatively recently

Until his dramatic return to form I'd have called Launchbury those things. I wasn't convinced he deserved to go to the world cup and he did nothing to trouble the starting team whilst he was there. He's only just clinging on ahead of Johnny Hill, it's a great battle between those two to start with Itoje.

Whisper it, but it looks like a squad which isn't particularly committed to having a lock at 6. Though I suppose it only takes an injury to Billy and all of a sudden that's back on the table.

Other than George Martin a lock with the engine to play 6 being included in the shadow squad...

Unsure how Furbank is in the shadow squad as he is one of the most underwhelming players I've seen in a long time. His purple patch pre first cap hasn't been replicated at Saints.

I also hoping to see Genge start and Obano bench for maximum carrying power over the 80 mins. Neither are a slouch at scrum time either.

[francoisfou]

I too, am surprised at the inclusion of Wilson - fine player that he is, at the expense of young Willis. However, it’s reassuring to see promising uncapped players included.

[Oakboy]

I can't be bothered to go into individuals but it is interesting to look at club representation for the 40 players:

Saracens 6
Leicester 5
Worcester 1
Bristol 3
Gloucester 1
Wasps 6
Exeter 4
Bath 7
Sale 1
Northampton 3
Harlequins 2
Newcastle 1


A Championship team has more representatives than the National/European Champions. Leicester and Bath (with 12), are just about par with our three best teams, Exeter, Wasps and Bristol, (with 13).

Maybe, just maybe, our national squads are more about individual skills than team skills.

[I R Geech]

Don’t agree with decision to include Wilson ahead of Willis. The former’s a good team player but nowhere near as talented imo.

I actually think Jones has a slight aversion to picking forwards who have exceptional individual talents - no place for S Simmonds, Dombrandt, Willis moved back down the pecking order and picking some arguably rather mediocre, underpowered locks ahead of Launch until comparatively recently - maybe I’m overreacting or simply expect too much to begin with?

100%, and the backs are a bit weird. Umaga ahead of anyone is odd given how consistently he shits the bed, and Odogwu is having a moment (bit like Furbank did) but should count himself very lucky.

[Tigersman]

Honestly though I'm glad we are at least looking at Odogwu.
If it doesn't work so be it.
BUT we need attacking options especially at 13.

Also aren't all international teams usually individual rather than team?
It's hard to really make a "team squad" with only 2 weeks training.

[Tigersman]

Would be interested to know where Eddie thinks George Martin best position is.
Personally I see him working really well at 6, but think he would get more chances for Club and Country at lock in the future.

[FKAS]

Would be interested to know where Eddie thinks George Martin best position is.
Personally I see him working really well at 6, but think he would get more chances for Club and Country at lock in the future.

Bit like the Barbeary situation. His future probably isn't in the backrow but he can do a job for his team there in the short term and he can acclimatise to the pace and physicality of senior rugby. I think his future is very much at lock, for club the future partnership of Henderson and Martin looks to be exceptional and it's a priority to keep them at the club long term.

[Puja]

I absolutely understand the presence of Odogwu. If we're looking for a Tuilagi impersonator, he's got the physical materials, with the added bonus of a lot of pace and a wicked step. His time in the training camp will allow what coaches we have left to assess whether it's just form or a genuine breakthrough, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him start vs Scotland outside of Ford and Farrell.

I think Willis's problem is that Eddie sees him as competing with Curry for the 6 shirt, not someone who can play alongside Curry in the same backrow. I disagree with him, but I think that's the idea in Eddie's head and unfortunately if that's the case then Willis is up against one of the best players in the world who is very rarely injured. In that case, Wilson isn't getting in as a direct competition with Willis, but as the 7/8 cover for Underhill and BillyV.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. I’d agree with all of that.

Odogwu’s always had plenty of talent, but hasn’t ever really managed to get a sustained run. I think he could do well.

[TheNomad]

A few odd calls

Wilson over Willis is bizarre and just not right. Anyone can see that

Smith being behind several of them isn’t right

Crossdale, given some of the alternatives (in particular Thorley) is weird

Otherwise I’m pretty happy with that

[Raggs]

It's 8 weeks in the bubble, perhaps trying to not hit 1 club too hard (shadow squad I think stay with their teams). I also heard that some players may have opted to not be in, due to having new families etc, young kids. It's not like normal times when there's more accessible support for a lot of young families etc, grandparents may be isolating etc.

[FKAS]

Puja, I see and largely agree with the arguments for playing Odogwu at 13 but it's going to be too easy to smash him if he's left in a backline by himself with the usual willow thin speedsters in the back three.

I'd rather see him on the wing with Lawrence at 13. Daly and May can patrol the backfield between them and maybe drop Ford back when defending to give a tactical kicking option with Odogwu in the line. You can be flexible with tactics. Would give Ford a lot more option ball in hand and give the speed merchants more space with which to attack.

[Peej]

Standard Eddie. Some good calls, some odd calls. Wouldn't rule out Lawes at 6.

How does the shadow squad work? Are those players available to their clubs?

[Scrumhead]

A few odd calls

Wilson over Willis is bizarre and just not right. Anyone can see that

Smith being behind several of them isn’t right

Crossdale, given some of the alternatives (in particular Thorley) is weird

Otherwise I’m pretty happy with that

Not really ...

Wilson has always been excellent for England and is a proven performer at test level. He’s come back from injury and had a couple of very good games for Falcons which have coincided with Willis having 2/3 quiet games on the trot with Wasps. Unfortunate timing, but not bizarre.

I’d probably have gone the other way, but Wilson is a top player who, if picked, can be relied upon to put in a very good performance. As much as I think Willis is definitely capable of doing that too, the simple fact is that he hasn’t yet and so hasn’t got that credit in the bank that Wilson has.

I also agree with Puja’s assessment - as flanker best known for his work at the breakdown, Willis is probably in direct competition with Curry or Underhill than he is with Wilson.

I agree with you on Smith and Crossdale, but I can’t say I’m too fussed about the ‘shadow squad’ TBH.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Odogwu is just a bizarre call. Willis missing out is harsh. Otherwise looks pretty good. Furbank over Steward is an odd one.

[Puja]

Puja, I see and largely agree with the arguments for playing Odogwu at 13 but it's going to be too easy to smash him if he's left in a backline by himself with the usual willow thin speedsters in the back three.

I'd rather see him on the wing with Lawrence at 13. Daly and May can patrol the backfield between them and maybe drop Ford back when defending to give a tactical kicking option with Odogwu in the line. You can be flexible with tactics. Would give Ford a lot more option ball in hand and give the speed merchants more space with which to attack.

I get your logic, but there's no hole on the wing for him though. May and Watson have 11 and 14 sewn up and 15's between Daly and Malins.

I am a fan of Lawrence, but he's not looked ready for international level so far. I think it might still be too early for him.

Puja

[FKAS]

Puja, I see and largely agree with the arguments for playing Odogwu at 13 but it's going to be too easy to smash him if he's left in a backline by himself with the usual willow thin speedsters in the back three.

I'd rather see him on the wing with Lawrence at 13. Daly and May can patrol the backfield between them and maybe drop Ford back when defending to give a tactical kicking option with Odogwu in the line. You can be flexible with tactics. Would give Ford a lot more option ball in hand and give the speed merchants more space with which to attack.

I get your logic, but there's no hole on the wing for him though. May and Watson have 11 and 14 sewn up and 15's between Daly and Malins.

I am a fan of Lawrence, but he's not looked ready for international level so far. I think it might still be too early for him.

Puja

I don't rate Watson that highly. He's a turnstile in defence and mediocre under the high ball. He's got a wicked step and pace but you don't see him hunting down kicks like May. He's the luxury option in the backline for me.

Lawrence didn't shine but he was the sole carrying outlet in a backline with Farrell playing an age behind the gain line. Always likely to be a miserable time for him. Give Ford the chance to play flat and have Lawrence and Odogwu hitting lines for him and defences will be opened up. All he needs is a soft shoulder and it gain line break time. The back three don't offer that currently and Farrell couldn't run a line through a paper bag.

For me it was the reason the backline was so underwhelming in the Autumn the balance just wasn't there. We've used Manu to mask the problem of balance previously but if he's not there the balance isn't either. The Farrell/Slade combo is awful.