Danny Cipriani has been omitted from England’s squad for next month’s autumn internationals but Eddie Jones has handed a recall to Ben Morgan amid his back-row crisis and taken the surprise step of naming Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell as his co-captains.
The head coach has opted against calling on Cipriani, who started England’s most recent Test in June, while the fly-half’s Gloucester teammate Morgan is selected by Jones for the first time since 2016, having won his last cap during the 2015 World Cup. Chris Ashton is also included in the 36-man squad, despite not having played this season because of suspension, and Jones has turned to the Exeter pair of Alec Hepburn and Ben Moon to solve his loosehead problems after Mako Vunipola was the latest frontline player ruled out by injury on Wednesday.
“I’m really happy with the squad,” Jones said. “We can only control what we can control and injuries have happened. It gives an opportunity for some good new players to play some important Tests for England, while players who have been in the squad before will have to take on more responsibility.”
Cipriani’s snub is perhaps not surprising considering he was left out of the most recent training squad last month on the basis of his form but it must be seen as damaging to his hopes of going to next year’s World Cup. Manu Tuilagi is, however, selected and will be in the frame for a first start under Jones when England begin their autumn series against South Africa on 3 November.
After Nathan Hughes was handed a six-week ban late on Wednesday night, Jones’s options at No 8 were further diminished with Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds out injured. Accordingly he has rewarded Morgan for his impressive form for Gloucester this season, while Zach Mercer is another option.
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