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Six NationsEngland

England name 25-man squad ahead of Le Crunch

England warm up during the England training session held at Pennyhill Park. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Influential second row Maro Itoje, who suffered a medial ligament tear against Ireland, is not the only player to miss out for England, as Eddie Jones has cut his squad to 25 ahead of hosting France at Twickenham on Saturday.

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The trio of Ben Te’o, Joe Cokanasiga and Brad Shields were all fit enough to take part in training this week, but only Cokanasiga and Shields have been retained by Jones, with Te’o not part of the final 25, despite being one of the Australian’s favoured performers over recent years.

Centre Manu Tuilagi was in impressive form against Ireland in England’s Guinness Six Nations opener and it seems as if he has done enough to keep his place at 12 going into the game against France.

Loosehead Ellis Genge, who was on the bench against Ireland, is another to miss out, with Exeter Chiefs‘ Ben Moon kept on by England, whilst Harry Williams, who was also on the bench in Dublin, has been replaced by Leicester Tigers‘ Dan Cole.

Nick Isiekwe, who was called up as cover for the injured Itoje, has not be retained, either, signalling that one of Courtney Lawes or Joe Launchbury will start alongside George Kruis in the second row, with the other taking up duties as a replacement.

If England stick with the same XV that they went with against Ireland, Itoje’s enforced absence aside, that likely leaves competitions between Shields and Nathan Hughes for the last forward spot on the bench, and a similar tussle between Cokanasiga and Chris Ashton for the 23 jersey.

The full 25-man squad retained is as follows:

Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

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Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Dan Robson (Wasps) *
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Watch: Eddie Jones speaks to the press following England’s win over Ireland.

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Comments on RugbyPass

b
bit of a flanker 28 minutes ago
Newcastle DoR Steve Diamond cops ban over 'wholly unacceptable' comments

But no mention that the RFU later agreed that an offence had been committed…rugby an absolute joke at the minute. Really feel for the falcons there

1 Go to comments
f
fl 34 minutes ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

Does he have to name a tour captain? Itoje and Doris will both captain during the warmup games. Jamie George will too if he’s in the squad, and Jac Morgan and Finn Russell might get a look in too if they’re lucky. Farrell could then choose a captain for the tests after he’s taken some time to see what works.

13 Go to comments
f
fl 38 minutes ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

JD you’re forgetting one thing - IkeaBoy is very stupid!

13 Go to comments
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NK 2 hours ago
Crusaders hold on for dramatic win over Hurricanes on the road

Canes were AWOL for 60 minutes. Great defence by the Saders with 13 men. Well deserved result.

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Gareth Anscombe returns as Gloucester makes 7 changes for Bath

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Ronald Fraser 2 hours ago
Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

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JD 3 hours ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

Doris didn’t play that well though, while other number 8’s really shone. Hell Conan made more impact during his minutes than Doris. It doesn’t matter how well Ireland did. Example - Sale lost to Toulouse last weekend, but Ben Curry was phenomenal despite losing.


Don’t judge a player on 5 games is my opinion, class is permanent. Doris does need some good games between now and the end of the season though.

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Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

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JD 3 hours ago
Despite the Croke Park horror show, Marcus Smith shouldn't be discounted from Lions conversation

Taking 2 fly halfs and 2 fullbacks plus Marcus Smith leaves an extra tour spot. Quids in it will be Elliott Daly given his versatility. Personally I’m not a huge fan of his, but for a tour like this he will be ideal given the sheer number of matches. A further centre cum flyhalf (Jordan) isn’t needed as Kinghorn can play 10 as well. Part of me really wants Manu on that plane.

12 Go to comments
J
JD 3 hours ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

Farrell comes left field and names Jac Morgan as tour captain…


One problem for Doris currently is the form of Jack Conan. Conan is basically playing anywhere just to get on the pitch and is starting tonight at 8 vs Glasgow.


It’s an interesting thing to consider. Neither Doris nor Itoje are hugely experienced captains, but the argument could be made that Maro has more experience at the top given his amount of international caps and previous Lions involvement.


Both will be leaders in the pack regardless. Whoever is captain has to be a nailed on starter though. It’s not that outlandish to namecheck the current England captain as a potential tour captain really given Farrell only has a few options in front of him.

13 Go to comments
J
JD 3 hours ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

He’ll be starting second row anyway so surely it’s irrelevant to Oz whether he’s captain or not then?

13 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

Every league bar hte Top 14 is posting huge numbers of points 👍

50 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

He ruled it out previously.

50 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

For sure, but it’s not a reason to trade away a series win in NZ - at least not unless you’re inhabiting an alternate universe!


NZ prob learned more because Schmidt came in, and he was far more familiar with developments in Ireland than any of the local coaches.

50 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

They are not opposed points of view FL.


England up to Ireland 2024 tended to kick back rather than return. Their KR improvement coincided with both trhe intro of Furbank at 15, and Felix Jones running a more aggressive form of D.


France are good kick returners, but most of the work on that is done by the coaches at Toulouse and UBB, who have adopted a similar style.

50 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

Its the Oz media. They want him as captain with his penalty count and discipline woes. He’d help them no end.

13 Go to comments
D
DP 4 hours ago
'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

Tinsel has zero rugby IQ but a lot of influential rugby mates. The bloke spouts so much nonsense it’s hilarious to hear, he speaks with such conviction… blinkered and rose tinted conviction, much like most of the English players from his era.

13 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

could O’Gara take the top job at Wales now though?

50 Go to comments
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