Eddie Jones’ first England rugby squad: Who will be dropped, which youngsters will be promoted and what time will it be announced?
Eddie Jones announces his first England squad as head coach this afternoon – and he is expected to cull big names as he prepares for the Six Nations.
A host of uncapped youngsters will be given the chance to show off their test rugby credentials in the 33-man elite player squad while some who regularly featured under Stuart Lancaster in England's doomed home World Cup campaign could be left out in the cold.
Jones' official selection is announced at 2pm today – here's what to expect and debate over lunch:
Read more: Jones has no sympathy for axed England flops
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Definites: Henry Slade (Exeter, centre), Dave Ewers (Exeter, back row), Dave Attwood (Bath, lock), Ed Slater (Leicester, lock), Kieran Brookes (Northampton, prop), Alex Corbisiero (Northampton, prop) and Jonny May (Gloucester, wing) all look set to miss out through injury.
Potential shocks: World Cup squad members including Ben Morgan (Exeter, back row), Brad Barritt (Saracens, centre), Tom Wood (Northampton, flanker), Joe Marler (Harlequins, prop), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, scrum half) and Geoff Parling (Exeter, lock) have all been tipped to be overlooked by Jones.
Meanwhile, flair fly-half Danny Cipriani – who many believed could be embraced by Jones' expressive instincts – could also miss out.
Lancaster faced criticism for leaving Burrell out of his World Cup squad – but Jones could make the same call (Source: Getty)
What Jones has said: "If a player hasn't been selected, he hasn't done well enough – it's as simple as that. I accept that there'll be criticism of the squad and people will think other players should be in and everyone's entitled to their opinion but at the end of the day the players select themselves, because they express themselves in the way that I can see them be a profitable part of a winning England team."
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New blood: Uncapped players Josh Beaumont (Sale, No8), Maro Itoje (Saracens, lock), Elliot Daly (Wasps, centre), Ollie Devoto (Bath, full-back/centre), Will Fraser (Saracens, flanker), Jack Clifford (Harlequins, back row), Luke Wallace (Harlequins, flanker) and Sam Hill (Exeter, centre) have all been rumoured to have impressed Jones and be in contention for a place in his first squad.
Returning faces: Manu Tuilagi (Leicester, centre) is set to return from a 15-month injury while Chris Ashton (Saracens, wing) will be rewarded for impressive Premiership form with a recall. Dylan Hartley – tipped to be Jones' captain – could also return after disciplinary issues cost him his place at the World Cup.
What Jones has said: "The players select themselves because they express themselves in a way that I can see them being a profitable part of a winning England team."