considerably stronger squad than that of four years ago.
Eddie Jones has gambled with his squad
selection (Getty)Jones has risked a huge amount with gamble on youth
If it does all go wrong in Japan, it will be hard to look anywhere other than at the head coach. Jones has
discussed how he came about the decision last year that the squad was in need of freshening up, which
resulted in the likes of James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Ben Te’o, Mike Brown and captain
Dylan Hartley being jettisoned for injury reasons or otherwise.
But the players that have been brought in are yet to be blooded on the international stage, particularly
Ludlow, Willi Heinz, Jack Singleton and Ruaridh McConnochie who at this rate could go to Japan without a
cap to his name if he doesn’t recover in time to feature against Italy. England cannot afford to carry players
who wilt under pressure in Japan, and Jones has gambled plenty on choosing to go against experience.