In naming seven uncapped players in his England squad for a training camp before the upcoming autumn Tests, Eddie Jones has made it clear that he is keen to promote form and physicality for their matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina. The 37-strong group, who will meet in Brighton between 2 and 4 October, includes Sam Jones, Dan Robson and Nathan Hughes from Wasps, Mike Williams from Leicester, Joe Marchant from Harlequins and Ben Te’o from Worcester.
However, just as noteworthy is the short-term call-ups for the camp. Ben Morgan earns a recall as a replacement for the injured Jack Clifford, while Teimana Harrison is named in the training squad, despite neither being in the EPS. The move may put Harrison in contention for an openside berth, as he replaces the injured James Haskell, with several new options at No 7. Wing Marland Yarde is in a similar boat, having not been named in the EPS 45, but being named in the training squad, as a replacement for Jonny May.
Short stint? Teimana Harrison in in the 37-man England squad
Although some will see Sarries fly-half Alex Lozowski’s inclusion in the EPS a major talking point as Wasps’ Danny Cipriani is missed out yet again, the area of greatest intrigue must be with the back row. However, Harrison may not be assured of anything.
In naming his squads, Eddie Jones made clear his vision for a back row: “We’re pretty happy with Chris (Robshaw) at six. We see the six being a high work-rate player. The way we see the team at the moment – and I stress, at the moment – a big ball-running No 8 – like Billy Vunipola or Nathan Hughes – and a high work-rate six like Robshaw. At seven we’re looking for a disruptive, defensive player. Not a traditional No 7 because at the moment we don’t have that in England. We went down that route of trying to find someone, but in reality it wasn’t successful. We’re looking for a destructive player like a Haskell – Sam Jones and Mike Williams come into that category.”
With no mention of Harrison there, his selection alongside Morgan and Yarde in the training squad may offer the promise of some Test inclusion, but perhaps no long-term involvement. So while there is disappointment for players like Tom Youngs, Keiran Brookes, Dave Attwood, Luther Burrell and Joe Simpson, as well as Cipriani, the question remains whether Jones is biding his time waiting for an injury list to clear, or whether a “destructive” force like Williams is the only long-term option for England on the openside.
With Jones also insisting some extra training will be done with the group on grappling in the tackle area, working with names from the world of judo in Wolverhampton, chaos-by-design may be Jones’s defensive scheme for the autumn at least.
Jones also announced that Rory Teague will come on board in November as a part-time skills coach. Under-20 backs and attack coach Teague was part of the management team who helped guide England to the title at the Junior World Rugby Championship in June.
37 players attending Brighton training camp from 2-4 October
Forwards
Josh Beaumont (Sale)
Dan Cole (Leicester)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton) *injury replacement for James Haskell (Wasps)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Sam Jones (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester) *injury replacement for Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Mike Williams (Leicester)
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter) *injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi (Leicester)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Jack Nowell (Exeter)
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath)
Henry Slade (Exeter)
Ben Te’o (Worcester)
Anthony Watson (Bath)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins) *injury replacement for Jonny May (Gloucester)
Ben Youngs (Leicester)
45-man elite player squad
Forwards
Josh Beaumont (Sale)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter)
Will Evans (Leicester)
Charlie Ewels (Bath)
Ellis Genge (Leicester)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Sam Jones (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Mike Williams (Leicester)
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Mike Haley (Sale)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Gloucester)
Jack Nowell (Exeter)
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
Ben Te’o (Worcester)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester)
Anthony Watson (Bath)
Ben Youngs (Leicester)