As England countdown the days to their first test with Australia, Angus Cross talks us through the 15 that Eddie Jones should look to start.
1 Mako Vunipola – struggled in the scrum against Exeter but overall, his performances this season have earned him his starting place.
2 Dylan Hartley (c) – captain for now, but must take game to another level to keep Jamie George out of the team.
3 Dan Cole – England’s best tighthead. They need experience with only Paul Hill (2 caps) and Kyle Sinckler (uncapped) in the squad.
4 Maro Itoje – European player of the year has not lost a game he has started this year. A born winner who can inspire England to victory in Australia.
5 George Kruis – Itoje’s partner in crime. Has risen to a world-class level this year and is England’s line out chief.
6 Chris Robshaw – a constant rock in this England team. They will need his relentless work rate against Australia.
7 Jack Clifford – was my man of the match against Wales and takes Haskell’s place. He was very strong with his all round game and his pace for his try was brilliant.
8 Billy Vunipola – England’s player of the year has become world-class this season and will look to show his improvement against David Pocock.
9 Danny Care – the position in which no one has put a marker down. Care takes this place for his performance in the Grand slam decided in France and after impressing off the bench against Wales.
10 Owen Farrell – another to solidify his world-class credentials this year, with no real competition from his friend, George Ford, who missed five kicks against Wales.
11 Jack Nowell – brilliant performance in a losing team against Saracens. Another verging on becoming world-class.
12 Luther Burrell – impressed against Wales and deserves another crack at international rugby. Can fill the physical hole left by Tuilagi’s untimely injury.
13 Jonathan Joseph – one dodgy pass killed a promising England attack but other than that played very well against Wales and has been one of England’s best players of recent times.
14 Anthony Watson – magnificent finish against Wales and is in top try scoring form for his country.
15 Alex Goode – Premiership player of the year. Was again fantastic in the final, topping it off with a try that secured the double for his team. Will act as the 2nd ball player with Slade on the bench.
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16 Jamie George – putting pressure on Hartley but will have to be content with a place on the bench for now.
17 Matt Mullan – did well against Wales and is more than a suitable back up for Vunipola.
18 Paul Hill – an impressive footballer for a tighthead prop, but experience counts against him in a test series where England must impress.
19 Joe Launchbury – fantastic performance against Wales and is unlucky to be a victim of the terrific seasons of Itoje and Kruis.
20 Teimana Harrison – a promising debut against Wales and offers more off of the bench than Haskell.
21 Ben Youngs – took his try well but his overall game was poor by his standards.
22 Henry Slade – a promising end to the season was ruined by a poor game in the final, but can cover 10 from the bench as Ford has endured a horror season.
23 Elliott Daly – brilliant season for Wasps, but the solid game of Joseph keeps him as an exciting prospect on the bench for the foreseeable future.
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