England coach Eddie Jones has given the Wallabies a sneak preview of who they could be facing in June's Test series, with the announcement of his Six Nations squad overnight.
Brand new to the job, the ex-Wallabies coach has wasted no time making his mark on a team eager to improve after their early exit from their home Rugby World Cup.
Surprise omissions from last year's fiasco include Tom Youngs, Tom Wood and Geoff Parling, as Jones looks to bring in fresh blood to the squad.
Seven uncapped players have been named including: Josh Beaumont, Jack Clifford, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto, Sam Hill, Paul Hill, and Maro Itoje.
Jones said he hadn’t closed the door on any players who were omitted from the squad.
“I have spoken to some of the players who have not been selected. Naturally they will be disappointed and that is how it should be,” he said.
“They know what they need to do to get back into this squad. The door is not shut for anyone. There is no such thing as a shut door because of injuries and loss of form.
“There will always be opportunities to anyone playing consistently well in the Premiership and Europe.”
The squad will start training at Pennyhill Park on January 24 ahead of its opening match at Murrayfield 13 days later and Jones said he would be looking to field a team with a balance of new and old faces.
“We have selected a squad of players who we think can go to Murrayfield and win. This is our number one priority, to start with a win, so we have picked a squad which is a mix of experience and potential,” he said.
“I am really excited about working with England and together with (assistants) Steve (Borthwick) and Paul (Gustard) we hope to build a team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game.”
Here is a look at the squad named for England’s first Test match of the season, with many of the players sure to be taking on the Wallabies in both Australia and England later this year.
England Senior squad for RBS 6 Nations
Forwards
Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *injury replacement for Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
