England's squad depth | Does Eddie Jones have too much choice?
Rugby NewsTuesday, 06 October 2020 at 21:51
Eddie Jones has transformed England into the definitive second best team in the world since taking the job in December 2015.
The Aussie has had his injury problems, but has top-class players in every position…and it runs deep. Perhaps too deep?
In every position, if one gets injured another player, arguably just as good, can slot in.
Here, we look at how deep England’s options run with four top-class starting XV’s if everyone is fit and available.
FULLBACK:
First choice: Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Second choice: Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Third choice: George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Fourth choice: Jason Woodward (Gloucester)
WINGS:
Inpho
First choice: Jack Nowell & Jonny May (Exeter and Leicester)
Second choice: Joe Cokanasiga & Chris Ashton (Bath and Harlequins)
Third choice: Ruaridh McConnochie & Denny Solomona (Bath and Sale)
Fourth choice: Ollie Thorley & Adam Radwan (Gloucester & Newcastle)
OUTSIDE-CENTRE:
First choice: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Second choice: Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Third choice: Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Fourth choice: Cameron Redpath (Bath)
INSIDE-CENTRE:
First choice: Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Second choice: Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Third choice: Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
Fourth choice: Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
FLY-HALF:
First choice: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Second choice: George Ford (Leicester)
Third choice: Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
Fourth choice: Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
SCRUM-HALF
First choice: Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Second choice: Danny Care (Harlequins)
Third choice: Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Fourth choice: Dan Robson (Wasps)
LOOSHEAD-PROP:
First choice: Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Second choice: Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Third choice: Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Fourth choice: Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
HOOKER:
First choice: Jamie George (Saracens)
Second choice: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Third choice: Tom Dunn (Bath)
Fourth choice: Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
TIGHTHEAD-PROP:
First choice: Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Second choice: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Third choice: Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Fourth choice: Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
LOCK:
First choice: Maro Itoje & Joe Launchbury (Saracens and Wasps)
Second choice: Jonny Hill & Courtney Lawes (Saracens and Northampton)
Third choice: Nick Isiekwe & Charlie Ewels (Saracens and Bath)
Fourth choice: Joel Kpoku & Ed Slater (Exeter and Gloucester)
BLINDSIDE-FLANKER:
First choice: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Second choice: Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks)
Third choice: Brad Shields (Wasps)
Fourth choice: Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
OPENSIDE-FLANKER:
First choice: Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Second choice: Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Third choice: Don Armand (Exeter Chiefs)
Fourth choice: Jack Wills (Wasps)
NUMBER 8:
First choice: Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Second choice: Nathan Hughes (Bristol Bears)
Third choice: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Fourth choice: Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
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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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