Eddie Jones will resist any temptation to fast-track the Bristol full-back Jason Woodward into his Six Nations squad but remains on the lookout for young talent capable of adding a touch of the x-factor to England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup plans.
Jones will announce a squad of 33 or 34 players on Friday morning and has been assessing his full-back options after opting to omit Saracens’ Alex Goode from his elite player squad this month. The coach is seeking a No15 with blistering pace but is in no rush to cap Woodward, a junior All Black who is eligible for England.
“You’ve got to be careful,” said Jones, who plans to stick with Harlequins’ Mike Brown at full-back for the opening game against France at Twickenham on 4 February. “If we don’t go for Brown I’m looking for someone with genuine gas, which means Anthony Watson or Elliot Daly. I’m pretty keen about trying that, although not against France. They’ve both got gas and they’re both good footballers.”
Since England’s last successful outing against Australia in early December Jones has watched plenty of Premiership rugby but has not seen any outstanding backs – “I’ve been looking hard but I haven’t found anyone yet” – who have dazzled him with their potential.
He has been impressed with several of Bath’s young uncapped forwards such as Tom Dunn, Zach Mercer and Tom Ellis. “Whether they’re ready yet I’m not sure but they’ve done well,” he said. He is also keeping an eye on Harlequins’ lock George Merrick – “he has had his moments” – and his fit-again club-mate Jack Clifford.
Jones has also been delighted with the form shown by Exeter’s Jack Nowell, describing the wing’s most recent performance against Ulster as “absolutely sensational”. It would seem almost certain Nowell, Brown and Jonny May will be England’s back three against France, with Daly and Watson potentially vying for a place on the bench.
There remains a final round of European fixtures to negotiate before the squad gather for next week’s training camp in Portugal. Jones is adamant his captain, Dylan Hartley, will be fit enough to face France despite having been suspended for the past month. Wasps’ Matt Mullan remains the likeliest alternative at loosehead prop should Joe Marler’s recovery from a broken leg prove longer than the management hope. “This whole year is about developing the depth of the squad and, to me, that’s exciting,” Jones said.
