This archive report was first published on 21 September 2021.
England coach Eddie Jones has made a bold move ahead of the 2023 World Cup, dropping a quartet of senior internationals from his squad for the November internationals.
Among those omitted are Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, and George Ford, who will miss out on the training camp ahead of Tests against Tonga, Australia, and South Africa in November.
It's the most radical removal of seasoned veterans of the Jones era, with Ford emerging as the biggest casualty. The 30-year-old has been an occasional captain during Jones' six years in charge.
However, Jones has given the dropped players a lifeline, warning them to rediscover their best form or risk missing out on the World Cup.
“For those players, the door is not closed, it's just an opportunity for them to refresh and refocus,” Jones said.
“They need to get back to their best. They probably haven't been at their best over the last period of time, so we are giving them the opportunity to find their best.
Among the eight uncapped players is Louis Lynagh, son of Australian legend Michael Lynagh. The 20-year-old Harlequins winger has been praised by Jones for his string of solid performances.
“Louis has had a string of solid performances now. He's got good acceleration, good power and he finds the line. He's got to find the ball a bit more and we've chatted about that,” Jones said.
