At Twickenham Stadium Eddie Jones announced his training squad for a three-day camp in Oxford next week. It contains 33 players in total and will be followed by a full squad selection for the autumn series on 26 October.
The squad itself is packed with talent and yet doesn't include some of the more familiar names such as George Kruis, Kyle Sinckler, James Haskell and Jonathan Joseph. However, in Eddie Jones’ mind this group is solely focused on the here and now. Those returning to action, be that from injury or British & Irish Lions action, are being managed on an individual basis when it comes to their workloads.
Alongside this he did make it clear that there are players that he wants to see a little more from over the coming weeks with regard to their form. As you'd expect individual names weren't mentioned - that's not Eddie Jones' style - but 'they know who they are' and the lines of communication are clear. With two further rounds of Premiership action before European rugby rolls into town there will be opportunities aplenty for individuals to step up and we all know that if they don't then someone else will glady grab their spot with both hands.
Alongside this he did make it clear that there are players that he wants to see a little more from over the coming weeks with regard to their form. As you'd expect individual names weren't mentioned - that's not Eddie Jones' style - but 'they know who they are' and the lines of communication are clear. With two further rounds of Premiership action before European rugby rolls into town there will be opportunities aplenty for individuals to step up and we all know that if they don't then someone else will glady grab their spot with both hands.
At this point in time those that are going to Oxford do, in the Australian’s words, ‘have a head start on selection’ for that Test match however he quickly caveated that statement by saying that 'nothing is guaranteed'. Needless to say the long and the short of it is that perhaps looking beyond next week’s camp and trying to predict the exact Old Mutual Wealth series squad and 23 to face Argentina now isn’t wholly wise!
Naturally of those included the name Marcus Smith jumps out due to the fact the 18-year-old that’s caught the attention of so many early on in this Premiership season. That attention first arrived through Eddie Jones' words about the young man in August and has been increased by the player's subsequent performances for Harlequins. Yet in today's live press conference England's head coach, in his own unique way, was quick to clarify the fly-half's position within this training squad.
“Well he [Marcus Smith] is going to be holding a lot of bags. He's an apprentice, he’ll clean some boots and hold some bags. We're sure he'll do that well. He went to a good public school so he's well educated to do that.
“He's fifth choice number 10, so I'm sure he's going to be good at shining George Ford's shoes.”
It’s a reminder to Marcus Smith of the road ahead and a reminder to all that stepping into Eddie Jones’ England squad, and climbing the ladder up to being a regular Test starter, isn’t a walk in the park and doesn’t happen instantly.
With it now being less than two years to go before Rugby World Cup 2019 minds will have been even further focused on that competition. Since the 57-year-old took over as head coach a media session hasn't gone by without him referencing and focusing on their ultimate goal - winning RWC 2019. Today he looked ahead to the next two years and took stock of where they are right now.
"You never know [if we're where we need to be], things change and we’re a dynamic team. Tomorrow a couple of players could be injured for the season or be injured for the World Cup so you never know where you are. But, in the first two years we’ve established a good base and we’ve got some credit in the bank. We’ve got a base of players to build on and now it’s about finding the 31 players that can win the World Cup for us. That’s the project for the next two years so we about to embark on that."
Look out for more from Eddie Jones arriving later on Friday evening including his view on 'popular rugby', competition for places and a back row forward not selected that did catch his eye.
Eddie Jones Training Squad for Oxford
With it now being less than two years to go before Rugby World Cup 2019 minds will have been even further focused on that competition. Since the 57-year-old took over as head coach a media session hasn't gone by without him referencing and focusing on their ultimate goal - winning RWC 2019. Today he looked ahead to the next two years and took stock of where they are right now.
"You never know [if we're where we need to be], things change and we’re a dynamic team. Tomorrow a couple of players could be injured for the season or be injured for the World Cup so you never know where you are. But, in the first two years we’ve established a good base and we’ve got some credit in the bank. We’ve got a base of players to build on and now it’s about finding the 31 players that can win the World Cup for us. That’s the project for the next two years so we about to embark on that."
Look out for more from Eddie Jones arriving later on Friday evening including his view on 'popular rugby', competition for places and a back row forward not selected that did catch his eye.
Eddie Jones Training Squad for Oxford
Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens).
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
