Out: Rob Webber. In: Dylan Hartley.
Webber's inclusion has become more and more obscure as his popularity with his club coaches has slowly diminished. It's hard to justify not including a player as highly rated in his position as Hartley in favour of a man who doesn't start for his club. Ignore his discipline issues, since Eddie Jones seems to be about to, but if you can't or you feel the concussion injuries sway you, then consider Mikey Haywood, Hartley's understudy. Man of the match last week against Gloucester, 100% lineout accuracy in the last three weeks having played 237 minutes. All of the same skills, none of the discipline issues. Worth considering.
Out: Brad Barritt. In: Elliot Daly.
Jones seems to be hinting of a new era for England, a flowing, attacking era which utilises the backs creativity. Barritt does a job, he defends but he doesn't seem to fit the mould of a Henry Slade or a Daly. Besides, who wouldn't want to have a player who can handily chip in penalties from anywhere in their half? With Slade and Daly, you cover both sides of the field.
Out: Calum Clark. In: Jamie Gibson
This is fairly straightforward: Clark hasn't played since the preseason games in September. Gibson has made the shirt his own since he made the switch to Saints. Clark is the closest to an out and out 7 in the Premiership (in my opinion) at his best, but Gibson has a balanced ability to play across the back row. His turnover stats are impressive and being named player of the month in his first month is quite the achievement.
Out:... In: Joe Simpson.
This is an interesting puzzle. Simpson is one of the best scrum halves in the Northern hemisphere and injury cost him his place in the World Cup. Now he's due his chance, possibly in the starting shirt. The question is who to drop. Ben Youngs, Richard Wigglesworth and Danny Care. The latter fell from grace with Stuart Lancaster, though not with much explanation. I have never been a fan of Youngs: his odd habit of holding the ball before he passes is dangerous enough at club level and potentially downright suicidal on the international stage. I'm surprised the fly halves haven't throttled him. Perhaps that's my choice to drop.
Out: James Haskell. In: Dave Ewers.
Haskell is a very strong player, but I think there's a chance for Ewers to overtake him and hold the position heading to the next World Cup. Ewers is a very effective ball carrier and a powerful scrummager. I wouldn't rule out Haskell, but Ewers has been impressive in the last couple of years and deserves his chance.
Out: Courtney Lawes. In: Maro Itoje.
Like Clark, Lawes hasn't played for a while, and whilst he's normally first on the team sheet, he'll need time to recover from his injuries. Itoje has a real potential. Able to pack down in several positions, just like Lawes. A former U20's captain, he's one of the players tipped to take the armband from Robshaw, but his flexibility and turnover stats are very impressive for a second row.
Out: Dave Wilson. In: Paul Hill.
The under 20's winner has massive potential to be a highly capped tighthead and could develop very quickly if given the chance. He has already proven himself at the Gardens behind Kieran Brookes (who will probably oust Dan Cole for the starting shirt.) Wilson, on the other hand, has not managed to settle to the new scrum engagement sequence. He has a high cap number but most of them from the bench behind Cole. The best move would be to bring the youthful players into camp and mould them to what you need.
Out: Chris Robshaw. In: Luke Wallace.
Robshaw has been a great servant in the Lancaster era, representing everything the head coach has stood for. Unfortunately, his position as England captain forced things at Harlequins. Luke Wallace was stuck in the 6 shirt whilst Robshaw seemed to have "7" tattooed to his back. Now Lancaster has left, Robshaw and Wallace have switched to their preferred sides and both are playing better rugby. However, Jones has previously stated that Robshaw doesn't add anything internationally, though he has since doubled back on himself. For me, without Jon Fisher or Clark, there are no other choices for a traditional openside and Wallace is a stunning player at his best.
Out: Sam Burgess. In:...Wildcard.
This last spot is traditionally given to a front row player, in which case a third loose head prop would be summoned up. If this is the case, you would do well to consider Alex Waller. Understudy to Soane Tonga'uia and Alex Corbisiero at the Gardens, but now a fully fledged starter in his own right and a part of the Saints pack dominating in Europe and at home. 100 consecutive games does not come easily. If you wanted something more in the backs, Ben Foden is coming into his form missing in recent years and Semisa Rokogunduni and Chris Ashton are likewise building to impress.
On a side note, yesterday's injury to Slade could spell a call up for Ollie Devoto or Sam Hill. Both are decent carriers and can cover a range of positions. There could be reason to call up George Lowe as an extra outside centre. The youth of the Premiership should be given their chances and allowed into camp to be nurtured. I personally think that Jones should break the protocol and call for all of his EPS and Saxons players to meet for camp before the Six Nations, so he can talk to each individuals concerned and see them train. Maybe even arrange in-camp tests to allow players to compete for a place in his team. We all look forward to seeing what's going to happen when the Six Nations rolls around and more importantly, who will #WearTheRose.
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