"Best in the world" - Eddie Jones reveals five guaranteed starters for Autumn Nations Series

Monday, 01 November 2021 at 07:47

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byRugby Rucker

Eddie Jones has revealed his five guaranteed starters for the starting England XV heading into the 2021 Autumn Nations Series.

Jones has revealed a number of positions are up for grabs, saying: ‘We’ve got good young players. Freddie Steward, Adam Radwan and Harry Randall all made debuts in the summer and they’ve all got the potential to go forward.

‘We’ve also got three good players competing for No 8 — Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds and Callum Chick. Getting that balance in the back row is going to be important for us.’

However, he also revealed five players who are currently nailed-on starters.

England’s Autumn Nations Series 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.

#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