Rugby World Cup: Eddie Jones changed mind over England squad selection at last minute

The England head coach announced a surprise 31-man squad to take to Japan that features four players with a combined 120 minutes’ Test experience

Eddie Jones changed his mind at the last minute before settling on his Rugby World Cup squad, it has emerged.

The England head coach announced a surprise 31-man squad to take to Japan that features four players with a combined 120 minutes’ Test experience, with Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Jack Singleton and the uncapped Ruaridh McConnochie making the plane.

Their inclusion spelt the end for the hopes of Ben Te’o, Brad Shields, Ben Spencer and Danny Cipriani, who were all notable omissions from the travelling party. The absence of Te’o was the most surprising, having been a loyal lieutenant to Jones since being drafted into his plans in 2016. But an altercation with Mike Brown during last month’s training camp in Treviso looked to have cost him his place in the squad and he was left out of the final squad as he was “not in our best 31”.

Jones held a final two-hour selection meeting with his assistant coaches on Sunday night, where the Australian was swayed into changing his plans at the 11th hour. However, he would not be drawn on the identity of who the last-minute inclusion was.

“We’ve probably had a selection meeting every week for the last six months,” said Jones. “We debate, we argue. There’s difference of opinions. I expect that. In the end they put forward their ideas and I make the final decision.

“One or two decisions last night we had to debate pretty strongly, which was good. I actually changed my mind. On what I’m not going to tell you!

“Like anything selection is a judgement. There’s no right or wrong. I’ve been handed the responsibility and it’s a judgement that I make. I had an idea on one player which most of the other coaches didn’t agree with. They were able to convince me they were right, which is a good process.”

Jones has gambled on more than just inexperience though. Jack Nowell has been included in the squad despite undergoing ankle surgery in June to repair ligaments that he damaged in the Premiership final. It is not out of the question that Nowell will head to Japan having not played a minute of the four warm-up matches, although he harbours an “outside chance” of featuring in the final Quilter International against Italy.

“He is a possibility for the Italy game, but I have got great confidence in that boy,” said Jones. “He is a magnificent worker, a good team man. If he is right he will go and if he is not right he won’t.

“The setback probably put him a week behind. We probably had him earmarked for that Italy game and now that’s a question mark.”

Jones expects Henry Slade, McConnochie and Sam Underhill to return during the remaining warm-up matches, although Slade remained in the knee brace that he was spotted in at Twickenham on Sunday. Tom Curry has “brushed up pretty well this morning” after injuring his right shoulder against Wales, with a return pencilled in over the next few weeks.

Jones also confirmed that, in agreement with the Premiership clubs, he will be allowed to call-up additional players over the remaining warm-up matches only in the event of injury, and given the issues currently on his hands he will add lock Charlie Ewels, flanker Matt Kvesic and centre Joe Marchant for Saturday’s return fixture with Wales.