Eddie Jones RELEASES Sam Simmonds for Autumn Nations Series opener

Tuesday, 02 November 2021 at 18:51

byRugby Rucker

Eddie Jones has retained 28 players ahead of England’s Test match against Tonga this weekend.

Jones confirmed this afternoon that scrum half Raffi Quirke, as well as backs Max Malins and Louis Lynagh will be unavailable for selection this weekend due to injuries sustained before they arrived in camp.

Marcus Smith, who missed last weeks open training session in Jersey, is also carrying an injury and has been labelled as a doubt for the clash.

Jones said: "He hasn’t done much this week, just a bit of ball handling. We’re being conservative with him, but we are cautiously optimistic he’ll be alright to play."

FORWARDS	CLUB
Jamie Blamire	Newcastle Falcons
Tom Curry	Sale Sharks
Trevor Davison	Newcastle Falcons
Alex Dombrandt	Harlequins
Charlie Ewels	Bath Rugby
Ellis Genge	Leicester Tigers
Jamie George	Saracens
Jonny Hill	Exeter Chiefs
Maro Itoje	Saracens
Courtney Lawes	Northampton Saints
Joe Marler	Harlequins
Kyle Sinckler	Bristol Bears
Will Stuart	Bath Rugby
Sam Underhill	Bath Rugby
BACKS	CLUB
Mark Atkinson	Gloucester Rugby
Owen Farrell	Saracens
George Furbank	Northampton Saints
Max Malins	Saracens
Joe Marchant	Harlequins
Jonny May	Gloucester Rugby
Alex Mitchell	Northampton Saints
Raffi Quirke	Sale Sharks
Adam Radwan	Newcastle Falcons
Henry Slade	Exeter Chiefs
Marcus Smith	Harlequins
Freddie Steward	Leicester Tigers
Manu Tuilagi	Sale Sharks
Ben Youngs	Leicester Tigers

England’s autumn fixtures

England vs Tonga, 3.15pm on Sat 6 Nov
England vs Australia, 5.30pm on Sat 13 Nov
England vs South Africa, 3.15pm on Sat 20 Nov

Where to watch the Autumn Nations Series:

Prime members can watch the Autumn Nations Series live from 30^th October with the Prime Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablets, games consoles, on Virgin’s V6 TV Box, the Talk Talk TV set top box, Apple TV, Chromecast, BT TV or online.

For a list of all compatible devices visit amazon.co.uk/watchanywhere.

“Best in the world” – Eddie Jones reveals five guaranteed starters for Autumn Nations Series

before and after interior design make over comparison tutorial youtube thumbnail 59 1

#1&2. Owen Farrell & Marcus Smith

Jones said: "‘We know George is a good player but we’ve asked him to have a look at a couple of things in his game to make him even better,’ said Jones. ‘I think he is doing that. He is playing well.

"But we are keen to give Marcus and Owen the opportunity to play at 10 and 12 and see where they can take our game."

DID YOU KNOW? Smith started playing rugby union at the age of seven for Centaurs RFC when his family moved to Singapore

#3. Tom Curry

Jones said: "The guy who has done remarkably well for England is Tom Curry.

"He has played six, seven and eight for us and I can really see his game developing to another level.

"He came in as a very strong defensive player but I think he can really progress his attacking game, similar to what Richie McCaw did. There’s no limit to where his game can go."

DID YOU KNOW? The flanker is the nephew of former England hooker John Olver

#4. Kyle Sinckler

Jones said: “He’s still a jungle tiger and jungle tigers can always go.

“In the most he behaves like a zoo tiger but still with the fight of a jungle tiger, so we just have to keep managing that.

Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 44 caps) during England Rugby training session at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 28 Sept 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

“I just see him maturing massively as a rugby player. He was a hot-headed individual type with a lot of potential and now what we’re seeing is a maturing, professional, committed player who is producing performances consistently.

“He’s going to be close to being the best tighthead in the world and that’s his target, that’s where we want him to get. I’m really pleased with his progress.”

DID YOU KNOW? Sinckler has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016

#5. Maro Itoje

Jones said: “Maro is one of the best players in the world and he plays the game on the edge. One of the best players I’ve coached for sure. He’s a Rolls Royce of a player these days.”

DID YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, he has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and three Six Nations Championship titles