An alternative England XV: Players unlucky to miss the Six Nations
Rugby NewsThursday, 30 January 2020 at 09:37
Here is our alternative England XV made up of players who were unlucky to miss out on Eddie Jones’ squad for the Six Nations.
There were always going to be some tough calls and with competition for places fiercer than ever before, a number of classy players have been left disappointed
We pick a team out of those players unlucky to miss out…
Fullback: Jason Woodward (Gloucester)
New Zealand-born Woodward, who qualifies for England through his grandmother, has consistently been in impressive form for his club Gloucester down the years. His performances in 2017/18 saw him selected for the South Africa tour, but his hopes were dashed when he failed to feature in any of the three Tests.
Winger: Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
One of the most exciting young wingers in the country, he has been a regular in the England age-group sides and was named in Eddie Jones' wider training squad for the 2018 Six Nations. The man is box-office and can score from any position on the pitch. A future England star.
Centre: Joe Marchant (Blues)
A cheeky inclusion. The England centre misses out because he's off having a go at Super Rugby for a year with the Blues in a revolutionary move made possible through the Club’s ongoing relationship with New Zealand Rugby.
Centre: Ryan Mills (Worcester Warriors)
Seen by many as an underrated player worthy of an England call-up, having represented his country at Under-20 level, Mills has a shrewd rugby brain. Long-range goal-kicking, a 90 per cent tackle success rate and a willingness to carry into contact make him the perfect midfield weapon.
Winger: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
The flying wing is a prolific try-scoring and is widely regarded as the best finisher in England. His turbulent relationship with Jones means we're unlikely to see him in an England shirt ever again as the 32-year-old enters the twilight years of his career.
Fly-half: Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
The 20-year-old, Jones’ original apprentice, was overlooked as a third fly-half at the expense of 21-year-old Wasp Jacob Umaga. However, his creative kicking tormented Saracens last weekend and he currently sits top of the pile as the Gallagher Premiership's top-scorer with 95 points.
Scrum-half: Joe Simpson (Gloucester)
The playmaker has an eye for the try line and accuracy from the boot. He's been a star at Kingsholm this season, scoring eight tries for the Cherry and Whites with two coming against his former side Wasps. His single cap came in the pool stage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup against Georgia, coming off the bench for Ben Youngs.
Prop: Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
A legend at Sale in the making has made over 200 appearances for the club. He's been invited to train with England a few times but is yet to make it into a squad. The powerhouse lays the platform for his team with some excellent work at the scrum while tacking anything that moves in defence.
Prop: Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
A skilful dynamo of a hooker, Thacker would have brought something different to the party. He would be in contention for All Blacks selection if he were a New Zealander, according to his boss Pat Lam.
Prop: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Failed to make the squad after his mauling at the hands of the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup final. He is still a reliable hand but his questionable form with Tigers and the fact he's probably past his peak means Jones will now look to introduce younger faces at tighthead moving forward.
Lock: Calum Green (Leicester Tigers)
The lock, who joined from Newcastle Falcons in the summer, has been one of Tigers few steady performers in the Premiership so far this season. He is a reputable operator in the line-out, tackles hard (108 so far this season) and carries well. A very underrated player.
Lock: Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Hard working around the field and an outstanding line-out forward, a bright future lies ahead for Hill, but with so many experienced options for Jones in the second-row, he will have to wait his turn.
Flanker: Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Quins boss Paul Gustard compared the back-rower to Fiji superstar Leone Nakarawa after the 22 year old responded to England disappointment in emphatic style with a blockbuster attacking display against Saracens. He’s someone who can make something out of nothing.
Flanker: Jono Ross (Sale Sharks)
He is a sensationally-tough ball carrier with real variety, he can win you an inch in the dogfight or play out wide in the 15-metre channels. The South Africa-born back-rower has great hands, is a top line-out athlete and tackles anything, sitting second in the Premiership's tackle count with 148.
Number 8: Nathan Hughes (Bristol Bears)
The powerhouse was the driving force behind Bristol's 34-16 victory over Gloucester last weekend, prompting questions about whether the No 8 can force his way into the England squad in the absence of Billy Vunipola. Short answer, he should be in.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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