The England Saxons squad for the two-game tour of South Africa this summer has been announced. There is a mixture of more established talent and younger, breakthrough stars, with seven players that have been capped by England previously.
Five players – Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Luther Burrell, Tommy Taylor and Ollie Devoto – were also named in the England squad to play Wales this weekend.
The Saxons will be coached by Ali Hepher of Exeter, aided by Wasps’ Andy Titterrell and Northampton’s Alan Dickens.
Head coach Hepher said: “Eddie Jones has given us a strong development squad to take on a South Africa A side. The squad has a good mixture of experienced players and emerging talent.
“Playing South Africa twice in South Africa is going to be a great challenge and a significant test for us but it is also an incredibly exciting opportunity for the players and management to prove themselves.
“The series will give the players international experience and will be an important stepping stone towards international honours.
“As coaches, this is an exciting opportunity for us too, not only to coach this group of highly-talented players but also for us to gain some international rugby experience.”
ENGLAND SAXONS SQUAD FOR SOUTH AFRICA TOUR
Forwards
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons)
Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints) *16 senior England caps
James Craig (Northampton Saints)
Mitch Lees (Exeter Chiefs)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby) *22 senior England caps
Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
Donovan Armand (Exeter Chiefs)
Matthew Kvesic (Gloucester) *2 senior England caps
James Chisholm (Harlequins)
Sam Jones (Wasps)
Backs
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Michael Young (Newcastle Falcons)
Oliver Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Danny Cipriani (Wasps) *14 senior England caps
Christian Wade (Wasps) *1 senior England cap
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby) *1 senior England cap
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints) *13 senior England caps
Alex Lewington (London Irish)
Sam James (Sale Sharks)
Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)
Management Team
Head Coach – Ali Hepher (Exeter Chiefs)
Assistant Coach – Andy Titterrell (Wasps)
Assistant Coach – Alan Dickens (Northampton Saints)
Team Manager – Richard Hill
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter. 
And no Will Fraser here? Not sure what more he has to do either.
Words fail me Jez!
What the hell If Brookes is fit why on earth have Sinkler and Hill gone to Aus. There is a reason Hill plays behind Brookes in the Saints playing order and Sinkler is no better either
Still no Waller or Autrac here either
Really strange. Clearly we were all very wrong thinking Waller and Auterac are the next two options when Marler pulled out, they seem to be 7th and 8th in the pecking order – possibly even further down.
From the looks of it, Jones has a very clear ideal of what he wants a front row player to be.
The likes of Waller, Auterac, Thacker and Youngs clearly do not fit that. Sinkler, Genge, Marler and Hartley types are clearly his preference.
Jacob, when you read your list of Sinckler, Genge, Marler and Hartley you certainly get a very clear impression of the “type” of front row player he likes to have in his squad.
I reckon Brookes has looked, to put it politely, somewhat off the pace in recent times. To put it less politely, he looks fatter than a manatee: he’s blowing about 20 minutes into games! Been slipping off tackles like there’s no tomorrow and Saints’ scrum hasn’t been the most stable either (although that’s hardly only the tighthead’s fault). He was one of the ones who came to mind for me when Jones said he was worried about the attitude of some of the Grand Slam winners.
Agreed Samuel. I have always rated Brookes, but he does look somewhat off the pace of late, and from what I have seen (on the TV) certainly wouldn’t be my first choice at Northampton.
Re: Brookes, there was an article in the Times that pretty much said the same thing and that this was also what Jones thought!
I’m a fan of Sam Jones, but for him to go as the second 7 behind Kvesic is a bit of a surprise given Wallace’s form. Even Fraser I would have assumed was ahead of him.
Thacker has to be the biggest surprise. McGuigan has gone ahead of him as second choice hooker behind Taylor? Strange choice.
Bigger than that though for me – Brookes is fit! He is surely the biggest surprise to be missing from the England squad (outside of the media obviously loving Ashton/Cips).
Seriously good XV available here though:
Harrison, Taylor, Brookes, Attwood, Ewels, Ewers, Kvesic, Armond, Robson, Cips, Wade, Devoto, James, Roko, Haley
Some seriously talented players in there. Particularly Sam James and Mike Haley from Sale look like top young talents.
Some good young prospects in there but am suprised that Thacker. Wallace and Fraser miss out
Errrr……….Will Fraser!?!?!? Finishing the season excellently with Sarries and doesn’t seem to have any deficiencies in his game?
Unfortunately I do understand why Thacker missed out. Think he’s a brilliant player and scored the (official) try of the season, but he is tiny… Given how much the Leicester scrum has struggled against the top sides – that’s with two world class props in Ayerza and Cole – think that may on part be down to Thacker. Jones already ditched Youngs because he wasn’t good enough at the key hooker jobs (throwing and scrumming), and he is also comparatively light – though a heavyweight compared to Thacker. A shame but clearly they think he will be exposed at international level.
Brookes… Well that’s a surprise. I, like everyone else, assumed he was injured. Clearly he was one of those Jones was talking about needing to up his game.
Would love this team to play the 1st choice 15.exeter and Saracens play off final no fraser at all and ewers not going to Australia. Harlequins way down the league why so many players selected. Yard doesn’t look sharp and EJ roo soft to drop Robshaw
I see Chris Ashton has thrown his toys out of the pram and rejected his Saxons place.
Yeh I saw that – sums up why most people don’t like him really.
CIpriani has got exactly the right attitude towards selection.
Ashton acting like that just shows a complete lack of respect for the three wingers selected in the squad.
He couldn’t have done more to justify why EJ decided not to select him
Regardless, he is a professional and he has acted like a petulant child.
He should be proud to represent his country at any level. Being selected to play for your country is a privilege, not a right, and this show of immaturity only serves to substantiate EJ’s decision.