Jonathan Joseph set for centre stage after making England's Six Nations retained list
Wednesday 27 January 2016 10:45, UK
Jonathan Joseph appears to have won the battle to start England's Six Nations campaign at outside-centre after Elliot Daly was sent back to Wasps.
Daly is one of 10 players sent back to his club on Tuesday and will be in contention to play in the Aviva Premiership this weekend.
Three players are on course to make their Test debuts against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 6, after prop Paul Hill, back-row Jack Clifford and centre Ollie Devoto were all named in the 23-man retained list.
Clifford has won the race to offer back-row cover from the bench, with Josh Beaumont, Matt Kvesic and Maro Itoje also departing for their clubs.
Joe Launchbury and George Kruis are favourites to form the second-row partnership with Courtney Lawes likely to be included among the replacements, resulting in Itoje's departure.
Head coach Eddie Jones is thought to favour George Ford at fly-half and Owen Farrell at inside centre, so Devoto has been retained to provide midfield cover at 12.
In total there are 12 survivors from the matchday squad toppled 33-13 by Australia in October, a result that sealed England's World Cup demise.
England name their starting-15 to face Scotland on Thursday February 4.
Full squad:
(Forwards) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), (Backs) Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
