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Sport

13th Jan 2016

Eddie Jones mixes the old with the new as England’s Six Nations squad announced

First impressions

Patrick McCarry

Manu Tuilagi, Dylan Hartley and Chris Ashton are back.

New England coach Eddie Jones has included the three players in his 33-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations, as well as introducing some new faces to the international scene.

Jones, who coached Japan in the World Cup, has named seven uncapped players – including Maro Itoje, Ollie Devoto and Sam Hill – in his first, extended training squad ahead of a tricky away date with Scotland.

Jones has yet to officially select his captain although the frontrunners are Chris Robshaw, Joe Launchbury and Hartley. Speaking at the announcement of the squad, he said:

“We have selected a squad of players who we think can go to Murrayfield and win. This is our number one priority, to start with a win, so we have picked a squad which is a mix of experience and potential.

“The long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby, so we have chosen a lot of new players on the growth we see in them.

“We see these players growing into England players of the future and developing into a side who can be the best in the world. Our aim is to develop a squad where there is depth and competition in every position.”