Eddie Jones cuts England squad to 27 for Nations Cup final
Eddie Jones has cut his England squad from 33 to 27 ahead of Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final with France at Twickenham, omitting four backs and two forwards after training the past two days.
The four backs released back to their clubs are Joe Cokanasiga, Alex Mitchell, Ollie Thorley and Jacob Umaga, while the two forwards are Alfie Barbeary and Harry Williams.
Jones had retained only 25 players at this stage of preparations for last weekend’s win over Wales but he has opted to keep two additional players on board ahead of the Twickenham decider.
The changes from that 25 see Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant included in the eleven retained backs after the injured Jonathan Joseph stepped away injured, while Charlie Ewels is included in the 16 pack selections.
ENGLAND SQUAD (vs France)
Backs (11)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 46 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 87 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 71 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 3 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 60 caps)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 6 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 103 caps)
Forwards (16)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 27 caps)
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 7 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 53 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 42 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 68 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 71 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 39 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 55 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 63 caps)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 2 caps)
The defeat that still hurts like hell 1??3?? months later for England's Anthony Watson#RugbyWorldCup #AutumnNationsCup
https://t.co/Xe4bGUZ4VK— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020