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Jones makes three changes to his squad for South Africa
By Online Editors
England head coach Eddie Jones has finalised selection ahead of England’s tour to South Africa next month. The updated 34-man squad has convened at Pennyhill Park today to begin their final preparations before flying to South Africa on Saturday for the three-Test series.
There are three changes to the squad. Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps) and Jason Woodward (Gloucester Rugby) are included following the withdrawal of Cameron Redpath (knee), Ben Te’o (small repair to quad muscle) and Jack Willis (knee).
England last won a match in South Africa in 2000 and were disappointing in a 63-45 defeat to the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.
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But head coach Jones, a former Springboks assistant who guided Japan to a stunning upset of the traditional powerhouse at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, believes his inside knowledge can make the difference.
"I probably understand the South African rugby psyche, as well as anyone, having had experiences there," he said. "And I know what they are going to be like when they play England.
"There are certain cultural issues between the two countries that provide great motivation for the South Africans.
"You have to be able to exploit that and use it in a positive way.
"How can you use their dislike of the English to create an opportunity for yourself because you know [in the first Test] at Ellis Park they will be unbelievably passionate and aggressive for the first 20 minutes.
"That creates opportunities for us. We have to be good enough to understand those opportunities and execute them."
Following the first Test on June 9, the teams meet in Bloemfontein on June 16 and Cape Town seven days later.
England squad for South Africa Tour
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Cipriani (Wasps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ben Earl (Saracens) *
Nathan Earle (Saracens) *
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Dan Robson (Wasps) *
Brad Shields (Hurricanes/ Wasps) *
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Ben Spencer (Saracens) *
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle)
Jason Woodward (Gloucester Rugby) *
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Uncapped *
Not available for selection
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Alex Lewington (London Irish)
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Jack Willis (Wasps)
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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