Eddie Jones has named the England squad that will take on Australia in the first test of the summer, in Brisbane this Saturday.
Luther Burrell wins the number 12 shirt after impressing against Wales, while Owen Farrell is preferred to George Ford – who is on the bench – at fly-half. Mike Brown keeps the fullback jersey ahead of Alex Goode, while Marland Yarde is a surprise inclusion ahead of Jack Nowell.
In the pack, Jones has reverted largely to the formula that swept to the Six Nations Grand Slam. Maro Itoje and George Kruis continue their second row partnership despite calls for Joe Launchbury to start after excelling against Wales.
Chris Robshaw and James Haskell form an experienced flank partnership, while brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola both start, the former alongside Dylan Hartley and Dan Cole in the front row.
There is no recognised back-row player on the bench, with both Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes named, and Maro Itoje able to cover there.
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY AUSTRALIA
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 49 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 22 caps)
12. Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
11. Marland Yarde (Harlequins, 8 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 40 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 58 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 32 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 72 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 62 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 4 caps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens, 15 caps)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 48 caps)
7. James Haskell (Wasps, 68 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens, 26 caps)
Replacements
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
17. Matt Mullan (Wasps 10 caps)
18. Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, 2 cap)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 32 caps)
20. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 46 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 59 caps)
22. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Lawes on the bench over a dedicated back row player when we are up against the best back row is utter madness.
Really feel for Nowell here, he has been brilliant all season for the Chiefs and for England. No real back row cover to counter the breakdown beast that is hooper/pocock. And can see Burrell’s facets being neutralised by two huge centres.
Jones doesn’t think he’s 100% fit. Bit of a thumb ligament injury. In that case why not Goode or Daly on the bench?
Thanks for the confirmation…I can stop sobbing now. If that is the case then fair enough but he cant be on the bench. Would go for Daly personally as he brings more of a spark off the bench. Think we saw in the world cup, when we had Goode on the bench, there was almost a reluctance to bring him on because he wouldn’t add anything.
Don’t understand Yarde over Nowell, if he wanted him in the team so badly why not move Watson to 15. No cover for 8, I know we have plenty of good second rows but you don’t have to put them all in the match day squad. Would have George over Cowan Dickie. Burell makes me nervous, think he gets turned too easily but I wish him well!
Plus points:
The best 10 playing at 10, not 12.
And that’s about it. I suppose we have to trust EJ’S judgement but I expect the team for the 2nd test will be different.
Can’t see the benefit of two locks on bench, just cuts options.
Brown ahead of Goode, Yarde ahead of Nowell can’t agree.
I still think England can win, however it will only be because of an arm wrestle in the pack and a boot off tee that can be trusted.
Has Eddie put two locks on the bench ‘cos Cheika has as well? I can see no other reason for it. Why the hell would you have Lawes over Harrison or Clifford??
And for that matter Cowan-Dickie over George???
Agree with all of this Pablito except that I would have George as starting hooker and C-D on the bench, with Hartley occupying an armchair back in Northampton.
Absolutely Andy, although I do think Hartley had a good 6n’s but
A) he is, like Robshaw and Haskell hardly the future
B) he is due a disciplinary meltdown
C) he is probably at best the 4th choice hooker behind George, LCD and Taylor.
However the question is (seeing as I’d drop Robshaw and Haskell) who you’d make skipper…for me Owen Farrell.
Farrell would work. Or Kruis. Itoje, not yet. George I’m sure will captain at some point.
Simply not enough pace in the back row unless it turns out to be chucking it down. Goode must be wondering what he has to do to get a chance and Care looks a lot sharper than Youngs lately. It looks as if EJ is going to try and bully the Aussies up front with no real fetcher at all. Not sure what Jack Nowell has done wrong. He is certainly more consistent than Yarde and was outstanding in the Premiership final. I think we will get turned over frequently and lose by ten points or more. Pleased to see Farrell at 10 and that Te’o hasn’t been chucked in at the deep end.
Ouch this is not the team I had expected or hoped for
Cowan-Dickie over George on the bench
Slow backrow
No backrow cover i’d be looking to change both of these players for fresh legs not just swap one for Itoje who has already done a shift at lock
Yarde over Nowell
At least Faz is starting at 10
Thumbs down for this team would be very surprised if we win the first test now
Regrettably, I think you’re right Leon. Jones must have his reasons but I’ll be damned if I know what they are. This does not look like a bench that can come on and seal a win against the Aussies
I can only imagine that he’s looking at using the 4 (!) locks to try and blast the Aussie back row off the ball at rucks.
Without making any cogent argument I look at that team and think, ‘meh.’ Just seems dull with some odd choices.
Still, until Eddie actually loses a game it’s hard to argue with his selections. We’ll see what happens.
Wow, not the team I was expecting or hoping for.
Agree with most peoples comments – no back row cover and Lawes on the bench. Daft. We need pace in the back row. Or at least the option! Clifford or someone on the bench to offer a rapid option in the back row should Plan A go tits up against Pooper.
Nowell out, Yarde in seems strange given Nowell’s epic form (maybe an injury?). You’ve already added bulk with Burrell. Do you need two big strike options? With Burrell in could have stuck with your form wings from the 6N. Or with Yarde in you could have had him coming off the wing and picked a distributor at 12 instead.
Burrell hardly an inspired choice at 12, would have gone with any of our other options (give Slade a go…).
Cowan-Dickie over George is another strange one, only thing I can think is for extra pace and carrying ability. But I actually think George is on a par there, and much better in the tight.
Sigh. I hoped to be proven wrong but this is the feeling I used to have when Lancaster picked sides.
I get it a bit – I think he is looking for physicality not pace – I think that based on this the game will be:
1) Kick for territory – pressure lineout (explains Lawes on the bench)
2) Starter moves and first phase will be heavily structured – I can see 6 men L/O with Billy V and James H playing in front of 12/13 on decoy overs lines, and outside Farrell (4 options for attack then and assurance at breakdown)
3) The pack is fine – no criticism from me – man for man, happy that the front 5 is scalably better than their aussie counterparts, and that the backrow will survive
4) Yarde is their for physical presence – however, I am shocked at his inclusion
Agreed Gerry. I would expect to see England using a lot of Burrell and Yarde hitting aggressive lines first phase off a line-out, probably straight from Youngs, with a couple of back-row forwards as decoys.
I remain very sceptical, however, that there is no genuine back-rower on the bench. Itoje can do a very good job there but I really, really thought this sort of game would be tailor made for someone like Jack Clifford.
Much like the tactics Sarries use with Barritt and Taylor/Bosch hitting those aggressive lines. The difference here is England have no back up playmaker in the back line. My only worry is that by adopting this style without that extra playmaker it could all come unstuck at the first phase if Farrell gets dragged in to the breakdown!?
Also agree with you about Clifford. Itoje has been shifted to 6 in a lot of Sarries big games for the last 20 this season, but Clifford or Harrison should be on the bench.
My issue is that it feels like a team designed to deal with the problems posed by Australia as opposed to a team designed to cause problems to Australia.
Perhaps Eddie still feels he doesn’t have the players available yet to win games through their flair and attacking qualities and in a result driven business he isn’t yet confident to potentially lose but put in a performance with potential.
Myself, I’d go hung ho a bit and try out with more attacking players such as Goode, Clifford etc. So what if we lose at this point if it builds to creating a team that in 3 years time causes all the other nations to pick teams to counter the problems we cause? After all the team beaten 76-0 in Australia went onto win a world cup.
I can see quite early in the second half the changes will be rug and Farrell will be shipped to 12 and Nowell brought on to run and run. Would like to see Watson given some time at 15 instead of Brown, but Eddie seems to have a lot of faith in Brown, which on recent form for club and country I don’t understand.
I am very disappointed in this selection. On the positive side I’m glad to see Farrell is starting at 10 where he should be………..well that’s the positives out of the way!!
No George, Clifford/Harriosn, Goode/Daly!?!?
LCD over George is madness, unless George is injured. LCD is nowhere near as consistent in the set piece as George and against Aus set piece will be critical, especially as the two main lineout jumpers play and train week in week out with George!!!!!
I think that’s the selection I can least understand.
If Hartley gets injured early on, we are stuck with the inconsistent throwing of LCD and one of our main weapons may become a liability.
Its not like he’s any better in the loose either, Both are dynamic players and for me George has the edge there as well
I can only assume George has picked up an injury, otherwise it is inexplicable.
I’m still trying to get my head round this one, as I’ve not read anywhere that George is injured.
Combined with the lack of Clifford or Harrison on the bench. Yes Maro can do a job at 6 and a very good one, but no 8 cover apart from Haskell!!! That is a worry for me.
TBH – is any worried about Australia’s composition – fair enough the back row, but you have to have the ball, and I think that is the object of this team being picked. Deny them possession
Also, first test – I would be saying bully them fellas. Don’t relent and then with 20 to guy, I predict Brown off, Nowell on, Farrell to 12 Ford on, yet with the same ball carrying from the bench.
Clifford will be unleashed in test two btw
I understand Eddie’s thinking, not sure yet I agree with it, but here is my reasoning for some of the more contentious selections.
EJ has stated he wants to do a rugby equivalent of the famous bodyline tour. I assume this means he is going to go for a very physical and abrasive approach. Therefore Brown over Goode, Yarde over Nowell, Farrell over Ford makes some strategic sense (whether you agree with the strategy is another matter).
Where I don’t quite understand the logic is the continued slow back row and the excess of locks on the bench. If Billy goes down we are going to have either Robshaw or Haskell at 8. Not ideal. I also don’t see what we would have lost if Maro moved to 6 and Launchbury to 2nd row. No loss of abrasiveness or physicality.
Nowell ahead of Goode or Daly on the bench is potentially interesting. Could we see Nowell at fullback? I think that could be his best position.
I assume Burrell gets in by virtue of Teo’s lack of training. I think he’s a bit of a liability, and I wonder whether Farrell will move to 12 if or when Ford comes on.
I honestly believe Jones is being very tactical here, thinking long term (i.e. length of tour) rather than short term of just this one game. The changing up of personnel isn’t going to give Australia time to adapt, particularly in the back row which is considered one of their strengths. If this back row works, we have an option to change it next time to keep Australia guessing…if it doesn’t work, then we have the options to try other things when we know a certain style of play does not work.
I innately trust EJ – if this had been a selection from the previous regime I would have been screaming blue murder, but I feel confident still. The theme is clarity and understanding of your role, and being picked to do a job – think that’s what we will see
Obviously a fair few surprises. I actually find myself agreeing with the XV starting other than Robshaw, Brown and Yarde, and considering everything said about “bodyline” – those three fit that.
The biggest surprise for me is Lawes instead of a back row player, I thought Clifford was going to play a big part in this series.
Cowan-Dickie, like Hill, are obviously held in incredibly high regard within the England set up so I’m not all that surprised to see them in place of the more obvious George/Brookes, with the later not even getting a tour spot.
Not surprised Brooks didn´t make the tour. He got absolutely marmalised by Catt at Bath a few weeks ago, and didn´t look fit at all. Has he been concussed this season? He looked all over the place when he was taken off on that day?
Brookes really hasn’t recovered the form he had last year since coming back from injury. I believe he may have been one of the players EJ was referring to when he talked about people needing to show improvement.
As Andy points out, he didn’t improve, so he wasn’t taken
I don’t disagree – but he was still starting before Hill at Saints. My point was not that Brookes/George form is comparable, but simply that the RFU/England have a few youngsters that are highly rated and will get game time ahead of those that did not shine through that route.
George did shine in the England age groups though and was U18’s & U20’s captain when he was involved. Add the fact that his playing form has been far better than LCD and it just seems odd.
I don’t think it is was in the same way that they pinned the likes of LCD and Hill in.
LCD/Hill were both being thrown around as serious options for England before they’d played much club rugby, much the same as Nowell and Watson. Where George spent years proving himself as a Prem player. I think some players come out of that system with a lot of RFU affection – Itoje the same.
Pretty conservative of Eddie. England’s mind set seems to have sucked him in rather than vice versa with his (not) imposing a ‘SH’ culture on John Bull.
Missed opportunity to have been more innovative & tried to go out & win it rather than to not lose it… again?
And 2 No 6’s v Oz’s 2 No 7’s!? Away from home?
If the ‘WC’ Itoje is as good & versatile as is said up here, why not run him out @ 6 with Launch @ lock. 3 line out options to boot.
Understand to an extent Farrell’s moving to fly 1/2, but only because Ford seems shot in terms of confidence.. as well as his option taking ability. And the best starter is with the Saxons!
And who’s going to straighten midfield? Burrell? Joseph kicks too much.
It is a shame because we could’ve tried to address some of the issues we had against them in the WC. With Itoje and maybe Clifford in the back row we could have given Australia a competition at the breakdown. I can see the current back row losing the battle again.
Despite Ford’s lack of confidence I still would’ve fancied him at 10, Farrell at 12 as Burrell wont give us many options in attack.
I can only echo many of the concerns already voiced. As one commentator has said, this seems almost like a step back into the Lancaster years. I’m not expecting England to win this series but the one thing EJ brought with him,clarity of thought and a buccaneer spirit,seem to have been ditched here. Can it be that Eddie is choking because he’s playing the Aussies? I really hope that is not so.
One minor point re the bench; Is anyone else surprised at the rapid elevation of Paul Hill? I know Brookes is out of sorts and possibly a bit overweight but Hill is a novice at this level. Surely Cooper-Woolley has a better case for inclusion?
That´s two things teecee. I think the clarity of thought is still there but the buccaneer spirit isn´t (if it ever was.) He gave a run out to some future possibles with flair against Wales but has shown fairly predictable loyalty to the pack that won him the grand slam, probably in the belief that team spirit goes a long way. He clearly wants a really abrasive pack to “bash up” the Aussies and put them on the back foot so that they can´t play with pace. Unfortunately I think he is faced with a whole new set of problems that require a new set of answers. I don´t see this team providing them.
For me simply replacing Lawes with Clifford would make this 23 a whole lot more positive (picking CD over George aside).
Personally I’d have liked either Clifford or itoje in the back row to add more pace but can understand why EJ is sticking with robshaw for now, but having Clifford on the bench would have at least given the option of pace off the bench.
Won’t judge until the match ! In Eddie we trust for Saturday ;)
Totally agree – that one change would make a huge difference to how I feel about this team! It is the one i just cannot understand
Eddie is an extremely experienced astute world class coach.He is also an aussie.He may have one or two things wrong–we shall see.But he represents our best chance since 2003 to win down under.I back him and have every belief he knows what he is doing
You do realise Martin Johnson led England to a win down there in 2010?
Only because Giteau missed a hilariously routine penalty. I’m talking dead straight in front, 15m out yet he managed to push it left…
Was that the one where he milked the penalty in the first place? If I’m thinking of the right game/incident, I always liked to think that Giteau felt guilty about acting like a bellend in “simulating” for the penalty and deliberately fluffed the kick by way of an apology!
This one, right?
I’d forgotten about that. Terrible. He goes down like he’s been shot by a sniper.
No wonder we need laws against ‘simulation’.
The description of that as a “big hit” by the Aussie commentator is just ridiculous!!! Such fair and balanced commentary is to be expected of course!!
Silly thing is i’ve seen similar given as a no arms tackle and yellow carded
harlequin
That’s what Stuart Barnes said abt Jones, yet he got the chop from both Saracens & The Reds.
Seems to have got the job on the back of THAT win v SA?
It’s to be seen if he’s ‘WC’ or not.
Boy oh boy……a few left field choices but I do trust in EJ. He has clearly seen something in training or the recent matches that works and I think we are talking fine margins. Yarde a ‘yard’ quicker than Nowell but not quite as good in the tackle. I think of all the wings, Yarde, Rokoduguni, Ashton, Nowell…he must have seen something that edges one over the other. I hope he is fully vindicated. My other concerns are no Daly and no bolted on experienced players in the right position….and we are playing Australia. I think Joseph will be exposed…again ….as a combative, pacy one trick pony. Italy apart, when I reckon I could have scored, he, and Ford have gone backwards and don’t offer anything several other players could. Our bench looks very light in the backs and if the forwards don’t deliver, neither will Farrell. Shame about Tuillagi, Burrell is good but not world class. It has the potential to go wrong badly but 10 man rugby, stick it up yer jumper and keep it in the middle, we’ll be fine.