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'Ireland are the best side in the world' - Jones
By Christopher Devine
"Ireland are the best side in the world" - that's according to England head coach Eddie Jones, who revealed his 35-man England Six Nations squad this morning.
England open their campaign in Dublin on February 2 against an Ireland side who completed the Grand Slam at Twickenham last year.
"Ireland are the best side in the world," Jones added. "They are a very well coached and drilled side and have particular things they do well in the game.
"To beat Ireland, we need to compete brutally in all the contest areas of the game.
Jones left out co-captain Dylan Hartley has been left out of England's training squad for the game in Dublin.
Owen Farrell will therefore skipper the team, while head coach Eddie Jones has included four uncapped players in the squad - OIlie Thorley, Dan Robson, Jack Singleton and Ben Earl.
England are boosted by the return of Billy Vunipola, Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge for the first time since last year's tour of South Africa, while Dan Cole, Jack Clifford and Ollie Devoto are also included after long absences.
"Unfortunately, Dylan won’t be available for the Ireland game so we won't take him to Portugal [for a training camp] but we are hopeful he will be back later in the championship," explained Jones.
"Owen will be captain by himself and he will certainly have great support from a number of senior players."
"We are very happy with the squad and have a number of players who have come back from long-term injury.
"We are looking forward to getting across to Portugal and having a good 10-day preparation for the Ireland game."
England squad:
Forwards: Jack Clifford, Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Ben Moon, Brad Shields, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Harry Williams, Mark Wilson.
Backs: Chris Ashton, Mike Brown, Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto, Owen Farrell (captain), George Ford, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Ollie Thorley, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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