Jones makes changes to England squad for Australia Test

Eddie Jones has selected 28 players to assemble today to prepare for England’s final November Test of against Australia at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

The biggest casualty is Harlequins scrum half Danny Care, with Jones electing to retain Leicester’s Ben Youngs and veteran Saracens scrum half Richard Wigglesworth. Alex Lozowski is also omitted.

Zach Mercer drops out with Nathan Hughes returning after suspension which forced him to miss the games with South Africa, New Zealand and Japan. The Wasps number 8 was banned for six weeks – with two weeks backdated – after he punched Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow in the head during a Premiership match on October 6th, and then tweeting ‘what a joke’ during his first disciplinary hearing.

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Watch: Eddie Jones and George Ford react to England’s sluggish 35-15 win over Japan

Hughes is likely to feature at least within the matchday 23 against the Wallabies and is in line for his 18th cap.

Bath winger Joe Cokanasiga, a try scorer on his debut in the 35-15 win over Japan, retains his place in the extended squad. Worcester flanker Ted Hill is in the squad as an apprentice.

Australia were 26-7 winners over Italy last weekend, bouncing back from their defeat to Wales the previous week.

Forwards
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors) *
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

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