England team announcement LIVE: Eddie Jones names side to face Georgia in Autumn Nations cup
Follow the latest updates from Jones’s press conference as he names his side to face Georgia
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from Eddie Jones’s press conference as he names his England squad for their opening Autumn Nations Cup clash against Georgia.
The newest tournament on the international stage gets under way this weekend as the Six Nations sides are joined by the Rugby Europe Championship winners as well as Fiji, with the action kicking off on Friday night as Ireland host a struggling Wales side, before Saturday’s fixtures include the first ever Test between England and Georgia outside of a World Cup at Twickenham.
Jones has stressed he will not be handing out caps for the sake of it, with a relatively full strength team expected from the Australian today, although Anthony Watson has been ruled out with an ankle injury. The team will be announced at 11am, with Jones set to speak 30 minutes later to explain his decisions. Follow the live updates below.
England team announcement
Despite teasing a potential line-up with nine forwards, Jones has elected against deploying Ben Earl in the back line, though the Bristol Bears back row is among the replacements once more where he’s joined by Curry as Jones elects to go without a recognised second-row replacement, given Itoje’s presence in the starting line-up.
They’re joined by a strong front-row contingent of Vunipola, Dunn and Sinckler, while Bristol utility back Max Malins is set for his first appearance after being named alongside Dan Robson and Joe Marchant.
England team announcement
Henry Slade is retained outside Farrell but is joined by Lawrence, with the Worcester Warriors centre winning his first start after making his debut two weeks’ ago, with Jonathan Joseph moved out to the wing - a position he successfully filled against Ireland during the Six Nations in March. The Bath back is joined by Jonny May and a fit-again Elliot Daly in the back three, with the latter replacing George Furbank.
England team announcement
Prop Will Stuart and centre Ollie Lawrence are also set to make their first starts for England, while Max Malins could win his first cap after being named among the replacements.
Ellis Genge will win his 20th cap as he replaces Mako Vunipola at loosehead prop in what will be the Leicester forward’s seventh international start, while Jones has elected to rotate both props as Stuart replaces Kyle Sinckler in what will be the tighthead’s first inclusion in a starting XV. Jamie George is retained at hooker, meaning Tom Dunn must wait for his first England start after making his debut off the bench in Rome last month.
Joe Launchbury fills the void left by Itoje’s switch in the second row to join Charlie Ewels, while captain Owen Farrell will continue to lead the side at fly-half alongside centurion Ben Youngs, who wins his 101st cap.
England team announcement
Wasps flanker Jack Willis will make his England debut this weekend after being selected to start the Autumn Nations Cup opener against Georgia, with Eddie Jones making seven personnel changes from the side that clinched the Six Nations title two weeks’ ago.
Willis is rewarded for a breakthrough Premiership season with his first cap in the back-row, where he is joined by Maro Itoje as the Saracens forward switches from lock to blindside flanker in place of Tom Curry, with club teammate Billy Vunipola retained at No 8.
England team announcement
Jack Willis handed England debut in Autumn Nations Cup opener
Wasps forward to make his first appearance as Eddie Jones makes seven changes from side that won Six Nations title
BREAKING: England team vs Georgia
Elliot Daly; Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Jonny May’ Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart; Charlie Ewels, Joe Launchbury; Maro Itoje, Jack Willis, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Tom Dunn, Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Dan Robson, Max Malins, Joe Marchant.
England team announcement
Good morning and welcome to Autumn Nations Cup eve!
Rugby’s newest international tournament kicks off tomorrow night in Dublin as Ireland take on Wales, but today we’ll be focussing on England’s opening fixture against Georgia on Saturday - the first time the two sides have met in a Test outside of the Rugby World Cup.
Eddie Jones is set to name his side any minute now, with the Australian weighing up the chance to rotate and experiment with his side against the ultimate goal: to make sure they make a winning start to their campaign.
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