Will This Be the England Team for the 6 Nations?

Eddie Jones has given many England fans hope of a turnaround, but who will he select to lead the charge? This is who we think you can expect to see lineout for England when the 6 Nations kicks off.

1. Joe Marler:

Nick Auterac has been outstanding for Bath, and is pushing hard for inclusion, but at the moment, it seems as though Marler will not be budging from the side. One of the best scrummagers in the world, Marler is a great asset for England on the loosehead side.

2. Dylan Hartley:

Hartley is almost certain to be included after being named captain earlier in the year, and there can be no doubt that he is an excellent player, however, he is a loose cannon, something that has cost his team and himself dearly in the past. With any luck, Hartley will have regained his senses, a worrying prospect for the other 5 nations.

3. Dan Cole:

Kieran Brookes knee injury has pretty much tied Jones’s hands here, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Cole may not have had his best tournament at the World Cup, but he is an experienced and reliable presence, two things to look for in a good front row.

4. Joe Launchbury:

One of the few positives that can be taken away from England’s World Cup debacle was the return of Launchbury. Launchbury was consistently excellent in his return from injury, which is good news given that England will be without Ed Slater or Dave Attwood.

5. Courtney Lawes:

Lawes gives England a great weapon in the lineout with his athleticism, and his love of making massive tackles keeps the opposition behind the gainline. The progress of young Maro Itoje has been very impressive, but I suspect that Jones will limit him to bench appearances as he continues to grow.

6. Dave Ewers:

It’s been some time since England have had a dominant ball carrier in the 6 shirt, and though the tackling machine that is Chris Robshaw is a promising choice, as is the aforementioned Itoje, Ewers’ excellent form for Exeter cannot be ignored. Great over the ball and in attack, the Exeter flanker will add a lot to this England outfit.

7. Matt Kvesic:

England did not feature an out and out number 7 in the World Cup, and paid the price against Wales and Australia, when they were butchered at the breakdown. Kvesic is an out and out 7, and would give them a strong presence at the ruck with great consistency, something that the likes of Jack Clifford or Chris Robshaw cannot do.

8. Billy Vunipola:

Saracens have been unstoppable this season, and Vunipola is very much at the heart of that. Ben Morgan remains a solid option, but he just hasn’t found his form of old since returning from injury, whereas Vunipola has been dominant. He will give England a great presence on the gainline, and his hard running should create space for others.

9. Ben Youngs:

Youngs was one of the few players who can hold his head high after a miserable World Cup. His crisp service and darting runs gave England an edge around the ruck. While the likes of Danny Care and Joe Simpson will be screaming for inclusion, I give Youngs the nod on this one.

10. Owen Farrell:

Another position that will be hotly contested, but to my mind, Farrell has a clear edge. Firstly, he is a big reason why Saracens remain unbeaten, as his excellent return from injury continues. Second, he has more experience than Ford, and third, he is far more consistent. He may not be the most exciting, but his excellent kicking gives him the edge.

11. Jack Nowell:

His presence electrified England in the 6 Nations last year, and with Jonny May likely to be out with injury, the Exeter winger is a clear favorite for the 11 shirt. His dazzling pace and darting feet will be a huge bonus for an England side that lacked any attacking flair in the World Cup.

12. Luther Burrell:

It remains unclear if Manu Tuilagi will be ready for the 6 Nations, but for now, I think Burrell is a good option. He is very powerful, and yet possesses an excellent passing game that enables him to unleash those outside him with great effectiveness.

13. Elliot Daly:

This remains the toughest call in this article, as both Daly and Joseph have very strong cases. I have chosen Daly based on form, as he has been dominant for Wasps so far this season. Daly has great pace and footwork, but it is his vision that sets him apart. So often his clever angles and offloads have put others away to score, and this cannot be ignored by England any longer.

14. Anthony Watson:

This is an easy choice. Watson was probably England’s only major threat at the World Cup, and his dazzling feet and remarkable acceleration make him a worry for every nation England will face. Another good tournament will put Watson in pole position for a Lions tour in 2017.

15. Mike Brown:

Another fairly straightforward choice. Brown has great pace and vision, and is such a good creator in space. He will be at the forefront of England’s attack this season, and if his form at Harlequins is anything to go by, that is something that all England fans should be very excited to see.

After falling just short of the title two years in a row, and with a new coach and new mentality, will 2016 be the year that England can claim the 6 Nations? With this side I think they definitely stand a very good chance.