England drop Care ahead of Wallabies clash
SQUAD UPDATE: Head coach Eddie Jones has selected a squad of 28 players ahead of England’s final November Test against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
The biggest casualty is Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care, with Jones electing to retain Leicester’s Ben Youngs and veteran Saracens scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth.
Nathan Hughes returns after suspension which forced him to miss the games with South Africa, New Zealand and Japan. The Wasps No.8 was banned for six weeks – with two weeks backdated – after he punched Gloucester flank Lewis Ludlow in the head during a Premiership match on October 6, and then tweeting ‘what a joke’ during his first disciplinary hearing.
Hughes is likely to feature at least within the matchday 23 against the Wallabies and is in line for his 18th cap.
There were a few special mentions at yesterday’s post-match players’ dinner…
1st caps: Joe Cokanasiga and Ted Hill
50th cap: @George_Fordy #WearTheRose 🌹 pic.twitter.com/FNyBj9xGnF
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 18, 2018
Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga, a try scorer on his debut in the 35-15 win over Japan, retains his place in the extended squad. Worcester flanker Ted Hill is in the squad as an apprentice.
Australia were 26-7 winners over Italy last weekend, bouncing back from their defeat to Wales the previous week.
Forwards: Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons),
Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis, (Northampton Saints), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
