England 45-man EPS

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Post updated for Eddie Jones' training squad.

From EnglandRugby.com

• Final EPS to be announced on 30 September
  
• Nathan Hughes included for first time
  

England Head Coach Eddie Jones has announced a provisional 45-man elite player squad (EPS) for England’s pre-season training camp in August.

The squad will meet at the Lensbury Hotel from 6-8 August and take part in training, planning meetings and individual reviews in preparation for the Old Mutual Wealth Series against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia later in the year.

Jones has named a number of uncapped players to attend the camp. Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers) and Nathan Hughes (Wasps) are included for the first time while Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) and Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) have all previously spent time with England.

Following their series win in South Africa with England Saxons, Dan Robson (Wasps), Mike Haley (Sale Sharks) and Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) will join the camp, as will Joe Marchant (Harlequins) and Will Evans (Leicester Tigers), who were part of the England team who won the World Rugby U20 Championship in June.

MOST DOMINANT TEAM IN THE WORLD
England will announce a final 45-man EPS on 30 September for the Old Mutual Wealth Series starting against South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 12 November.

“This camp sets the scene for November,” said Jones. “It’s important to catch-up with the players prior to the start of the season and continue to put our plans in place.

“We’ll use this time to reset and review each player’s goals so they’re clear on what is expected of them between now and when we meet up again in October. It also gives us an opportunity to meet and assess some new players and ensure they are familiar with the England setup.

“The long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby, so we’ve chosen a number of new faces to attend this camp on the form they have shown recently or the potential we see in them.

“There will always be opportunities for anyone playing consistently well in the Premiership at the start of the season to force their way into the EPS - the door is always open. Naturally players not included in this pre-season camp will be disappointed, but consistent high-level performances can change this."

HUGE CHALLENGE
England sealed a 3-0 whitewash of Australia in June and are now the second-ranked team in world rugby, however, Jones is expecting a "huge challenge" from their next opponents at Twickenham - South Africa.

“England has not beaten South Africa since 2006 and we’ve lost our last five games against the Springboks at Twickenham," said Jones. "Not a single player who will attend the pre-season camp has played in a side that has ever beaten South Africa.

“While we acknowledge that we’re moving in the right direction we also recognise that defeat is never far away. It’s important the players all keep trying to improve and push themselves to reach new standards in their game. We cannot afford to have any complacency in our approach to this Test.”

45 man provisional EPS for England’s August training camp

Forwards

Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)

Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Will Evans (Leicester Tigers)

Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)

Jamie George (Saracens)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

James Haskell (Wasps)

Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)  

Nathan Hughes (Wasps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

George Kruis (Saracens)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Matt Mullan (Wasps)

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

George Ford (Bath Rugby)

Alex Goode (Saracens)

Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)

Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)

Joe Marchant (Harlequins)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Dan Robson (Wasps)

Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)

Joe Simpson (Wasps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)

Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Original post:

Yeah true Sgt, I like Harrison aswell. I don't think that performance when he was hauled off should detract from him being a good physical player slightly different from Haskell. It should act as an eye opener for him as to where he needs to be.

It will be between Hughes and Clifford...but I think Clifford will come of the bench.

I agree. Hughes is an exciting prospect and am pleased he made the squad but in the back of my mind I don't think his fitness was up to test level required by England. He will have to up his game and stay in the game for much longer periods. He has had a summer break to work on that and we will have to wait and see if he has.

Im sure he will have had his instructions already from Mr Jones and his team.

It also depends who starts the season on fire of course. It could be that Harrison is playing relentlessly for Saints...he may take the spot likewise Clifford.

But I just think Hughes will have it. That doesn't take away from the fact I don't think he should be there at all...he should be playing for one of the island teams. But the rules are the rules.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Im sure he will have had his instructions already from Mr Jones and his team.

It also depends who starts the season on fire of course. It could be that Harrison is playing relentlessly for Saints...he may take the spot likewise Clifford.

But I just think Hughes will have it. That doesn't take away from the fact I don't think he should be there at all...he should be playing for one of the island teams. But the rules are the rules.

If Hughes plays, Robshaw to 7?

No same role as Haskell at 7.

Sounds like the IRB are trying to address the residency rules - but change does happen slowly. (apart from rule changes - its quite nice that we don't have any of those this season).

Hughes I am sure wont be played by EJ if they don't think he is fit enough. I fully expect him to play 2nd fiddle to Billy V after such a good tour, and if he is expected to be explosive off the bench then that would be quite an attacking weapon.
Imagine a triple sub of a fit and firing Tuilagi, Nathan Hughes and say Eliot Daly coming on against a tired set of backs with 20mins to go.

Is Hughes as quick as Haskell, he is surprising quick over a short distance for such a big man.

If you are going to play 2 x 8 + 6.5 I think I would rather have the 6.5 on the open side, especially of he has 40 caps playing there.

Eddie's said he sees Hughes as a 6, and that he has a bit of work to do before his strengths as a carrier will be considered.

He will want Clifford to up his aggression before being ready to start him, and seems to see him as a better bench option anyway. My guess is that he may persist with Harrison (having kept him in the squad).

Or heck, we could see him go with the lineup we had once Harrison came off... Lawes at 6 and Robshaw at 7. It's not like England are really going for the breakdown anyway.

Maybe Itoje in the back row?

Yes Harrison is one that Eddie will be watching early in the season. I imagine he'll have had a few instructions after his brief run out in Oz and Eddie will be looking to see how he responds.

I'll be keen to see how Ewers starts this season aswell.

I was surprised when Harrison came off in the third test that Itoje stayed in the second row and Lawes came on. Itoje is an option at 6 but Eddie seems to prefer him as an ultra-athletic lock. It may be that he doesn't (yet) have the speed endurance to fulfil what's being asked of the flanker, which is mainly to hit everything and then get up and hit it again.

I worry a little about whether Harrison will be physical enough against South Africa. He really needs to find another level from where he was in Oz. Shame we don't have the option of Underhill, if only for comparison.

Itoje seems the logical call with the added bus of upping the physicality with Launchbury, especially against SA. A back 5 of:

4. Launchbury
5. Kruis
6. Itoje
7. Robshaw
8. Vuinipola

19. Lawes
20. Hughes

Is quite a force against any unit.

I am not sure if I am remembering correctly or not, but in Oz I think Lawes was coming on for Itoje when Mauro moved to the back row! The Launchbury was coming on for Kruis. Is this a left right thing for the 2nd row pairing?
That being the case it might be more likely that Kruis and Lawes start instead of Kruis and Launchbury should Itoje move to back row.

Kruis runs the line so his direct replacement is Lawes currently I guess. I'd like to see Launchbury and Itoje in the same side but obviously not as a 2nd row pairing yet.

I dont know if any one remebers the summer tours to Aus? But the commbo of Krus and Itoje was  winning every line out/turn over.

So i thimnk it would be a stupid idea to change a winning duo. just for the sake of it.

If it is not broke, don't fix it.

Maj, this whole discussion is happening because Haskell is broke, so something has got to be fixed. Personally, I'd agree with you not to mess with the second row, but Itoje at 6 is an option that lots of folk want to see.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Itoje seems the logical call with the added bus of upping the physicality with Launchbury, especially against SA. A back 5 of:

4. Launchbury
5. Kruis
6. Itoje
7. Robshaw
8. Vuinipola

19. Lawes
20. Hughes

Is quite a force against any unit.

I like this combo, had it all really. Power dynamism, hard workers, breakdown work, ball carriers, line out players and some guys that can put in the big hits and close carries.

Obviously it's all theory but that looks good to me.

As Poor says, you're missing the point a little Maj. Haskell is injured so we either bring in a lesser flanker (Clifford/Harrison) or bring Launchbury into the side and shift Itoje to the flank.

Trouble being that Kruis and Launchbury both play the same side and it isn't quite as easy as most think to swap. Itoje plays a Lawes type game, Kruis a Launchbury type.