Out with the old and in with the new for England

A number of familiar faces have been left out as Eddie Jones looks to the future and the 2023 World Cup, Harry Latham-Coyle writes

Eddie Jones has looked to the future with his squad for an England training camp (Getty Images)

Out with the old and in with the new. This may have been but a preliminary England training squad to be further refined and refurnished before the Autumn Internationals but by word and by deed Eddie Jones laid out his vision for the future. Tonga, South Africa and Australia are on the November docket more immediately, but this is a group picked with the 2023 Rugby World Cup as Jones’ most prominent thought.

“We are now selecting with the World Cup in mind. After the Lions tour you draw bit of a line in the sand because then you’re in the last two years before the World Cup and everything you do counts,” said Jones of a 45-player squad.

“We’ve got five campaigns until the World Cup and our goal is to win the World Cup. Each campaign we want to get a little bit better.”

Finding themselves left on the shore, for now, as England embark for France 2023 are Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Billy Vunipola and George Ford, pillars of the Jones era, and leaders, too. While Jones was keen to stress the door has not been closed behind them and that this offers a chance for those omitted to “refocus”, there is a sense that this is not dissimilar to the changing of the guard in 2018 that saw Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Dylan Hartley and Mike Brown pushed out.

Those will assemble in Teddington on Sunday for a three-day camp. The squad includes eight uncapped faces plus a further nine who earned their first caps during England’s summer fixtures against the United States and Canada.

Certainly the jettisoning of Ford, whose club form over the last few seasons has been outstanding, for Marcus Smith feels like perhaps the most telling of the omissions. Speak to anyone who has worked with the prodigiously talented ten and they tend to purr with possibility and while Jones is cagier than most, there were suggestions here that he is in recognition of the player’s talents as he spoke of a need for fly-halves to be able to take on the defensive line.

Among more callow uncapped names, the most intriguing might be Mark Atkinson. At 31, the Gloucester centre is of an atypical age profile but offers particular value as a carrier, offloader and midfield communicator. If Smith is to take the reins then the fact that he has thrived with the similar South African Andre Esterhuizen outside of him at Harlequins will not have escaped Jones. The selection of Atkinson’s former Gloucester teammate Willi Heinz before the 2019 World Cup has shown that age is not a barrier should he impress.

Of those returning, Sam Simmonds is back in favour in the back row “an improved player” but finding a place in the loose forward trio for a player of his unique gifts may not prove easy; Alex Dombrandt may be a more conventional successor to Billy Vunipola. A re-energised Joe Marler will add value in Mako’s loosehead lieu. There is also Manu Tuilagi – the centre has been a must-pick whenever fit but it goes without saying that his selection must continue to be caveated for fear of another injury.

Saracens trio Jamie George (left), Mako Vunipola (middle) and Billy Vunipola (right) have been left out (PA Wire)

A lack of natural leaders has become something of a problem throughout English rugby, with Conor O’Shea speaking on Monday of the challenges for a “spoon-fed generation” now coming through as England unveiled a new pathway framework.

Lewis Ludlow, a player admired by Jones who the Australian believes has high potential as a lineout jumping flanker, captained England on debut in the summer, and Jones has been considering something of a cabinet reshuffle, confirming his intentions to change up England’s leadership structure, though Owen Farrell is expected to remain captain.

“Our squads have become more diverse and have a greater range of ages. We’ve got a great spread of players and different backgrounds and we want the leadership group to reflect that diversity. I am in the process of restructuring how we do that.”

This will also mark England’s first camp since a coaching refresh. The combative Richard Cockerill, perhaps a kindred spirit of Jones, is settling in to aid Matt Proudfoot in coaching the forwards. There is certainly plenty that the former Leicester and Edinburgh boss can bring but were it to go sideways then it could be explosive.

Anthony Seibold has been appointed as England’s defence coach (Getty Images)

The greater enigma might be Anthony Seibold - who has not yet arrived but will be in place before November to coach the defence – who comes with a strange reputation from the NRL after a tempestuous tenure at the Brisbane Broncos. Martin Gleeson will now guide the attack after leaving Wasps.

“We’ve got an eclectic mix of coaches. Their backgrounds are quite diverse and they bring different ideas to the table,” explained Jones.

“We are all ready to go with a new staff so it is a good time for the team to start moving forward again. We want to take the game forward and be the best team in the world. It’s the last chapter for me and I’ve never been so excited in my life.”