By Mitch Phillips
LONDON - England flanker Jack Willis got a close-up view of how coach Eddie Jones operates on Tuesday when, days after scoring a try on debut in a 40-0 win over Georgia, the Premiership player of the year was omitted from a 25-man squad for Saturday's match against Ireland.
In an area of great strength for England, Jones has included Ben Earl, Lewis Ludlam, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola and Tom Curry as his back row contenders, along with lock Maro Itoje, who played number six against Georgia in the opening Autumn Nations Cup match.
George Ford is back from injury in contention for the flyhalf berth at Twickenham, while centre/wing Jonathan Joseph is also included despite going off late in the first half against Georgia with a back spasm.
Replacement centre Joe Marchant misses out through injury, while lock Charlie Ewels is also out of the squad, replaced by Jonny Hill.
Squad update 🌹
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 17, 2020
25 players are in camp to prepare for this weekend's match against Ireland at Twickenham.
More details below ⤵️#QuilterInternationals #AutumnNationsCup #ENGvIRE
The England squad
Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 44 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 85 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 69 caps)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 52 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 2 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 58 caps)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 101 caps)
Forwards
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 25 caps)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 5 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 51 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 40 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 66 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 37 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps)
Reuters