Yorkshire Carnegie product Paul Hill to debut for England as new boss Eddie Jones makes instant impact

James Haskell insists Eddie Jones's England regime has 'started with a bang' as the head coach named his first matchday squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland.
England's Mike Brown during a training session at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot.England's Mike Brown during a training session at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot.
England's Mike Brown during a training session at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot.

Three uncapped players are on course to make their international debuts at Murrayfield on February 6 after back row Jack Clifford, prop Paul Hill and centre Ollie Devoto were retained at the squad’s Surrey training base.

Lock Maro Itoje is among the 10 players sent back to their clubs for this weekend’s Aviva Premiership matches and Jones has opted for Jonathan Joseph at outside centre after Elliot Daly was released.

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Daly has been in outstanding form for Wasps and was named man of the match after scoring an electric try against Leinster on Saturday, but Jones has looked to Joseph’s greater experience for his first match in charge.

George Ford and Owen Farrell are thought to be favoured at fly-half and inside centre respectively, so Devoto has been retained to provide cover for the No 12 jersey from the bench.

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’s squad assembled on Sunday night and following a day of meetings and administrative obligations, Jones oversaw his first proper training session.

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“It was good. It started with a bang, as might have been expected,” said Haskell.

“I didn’t know what to expect. Eddie’s very straight talking – he has demanded high standards and the understanding is that winning is the most important factor in everything we do.

“It’s a different mindset and implementation to what has gone on before. Eddie is a very straight-talking guy, likes a bit of banter and has shot me down a couple of times.

“He is a constant presence, which I think is great. There is a big focus on attention to detail, everything is well thought out, well planned and well presented.

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“The need for a massive re-build is not the case. Eddie is not trying to start afresh – he’s brought some boys in, he’s got boys that he wants to play and has picked people who are on form.

“He wants to seize the day and that’s what we all want to do, but the first and only goal is Scotland.”

Dylan Hartley has been appointed captain for the Six Nations and Haskell insists his presence has already been felt.

“Dylan’s only been in charge one day but he’s demanding accountability from players and putting the onus back on the boys to win,” said Hartley.

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“He was vocal in training and led things from the front when required. He’s quite good at that and that’ll build up more and more.

“With people eager to make an impression there were quite a few voices anyway.”

England cannot wait to return to their “confrontational” best under new captain Hartley, according to Courtney Lawes.

Hartley’s Northampton team-mate Lawes defended the hooker’s appointment as England skipper, insisting the 29-year-old will “do the team proud” despite his chequered disciplinary past. Hartley has racked up 54 weeks of career bans, missing the autumn’s World Cup and the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour thanks to his many misdemeanours.

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Lawes however praised new coach Jones’s bold decision as a clear sign of England’s uncompromising approach.

“Making Dylan captain is definitely a statement of intent,” said Lawes.

“It’s a decision that shows we’re going to be confrontational, and that’s the way we want it.

“We’re going back to our roots, our fundamentals of the game, for a big scrum and maul, and tough defence.

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“We want to make sure that when teams play England they really know they’re in a game.”

Hartley’s litany of transgressions took their greatest toll when his ban for headbutting Saracens’ Jamie George led to his removal from England’s World Cup squad. The New Zealand-born front-rower has since admitted he feared he would never play Test rugby again – but new coach Jones is determined that England dispense with the niceties in a fresh start.

Doncaster-raised Paul Hill has been retained in the matchday squad and is likely to make his debut as a second-half front-row replacement. His fellow former Leeds academy graduate Danny Care is also in the squad. Hill joined Northampton from Yorkshire Carnegie last summer.

England 23-man squad to face Scotland – Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), J Clifford (Harlequins), J George (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, captain), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hill (Northampton), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), C Robshaw (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens). Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), O Devoto (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J Nowell (Exeter), A Watson (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester).