Joseph left out of England squad

Jonathan Joseph has been left out of the England squad to face Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday.

Bath centre Joseph has featured in all 15 Tests under Eddie Jones - a sequence of fixtures that is yet to see England suffer a defeat.

But Joseph was absent from a 24-man retained list released on Wednesday, with one more player set to be axed when the matchday squad is named on Friday.

Jones is expected to make changes for the Italy fixture, with Elliot Daly fancied to start at outside centre and Ben Te'o also pushing for a place in the starting XV.

The versatile Daly has impressed on the wing in victories over France and Wales.

Starts for Daly and Te'o at centre could see Owen Farrell take George Ford's place at fly-half, with the Saracens man also in line to skipper England in his 50th Test if captain Dylan Hartley is dropped to the bench as part of the reshuffle.

Also included are flanker James Haskell, hoping to make his first start since June 2016, prop Mako Vunipola and winger Anthony Watson.

England squad:

Forwards: Jack Clifford, Dan Cole, Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Tom Wood.

Backs: Mike Brown, Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.