The 7 major omissions from England's 36-man Autumn Nations squad

There have been a number of omissions from Eddie Jones’ England squad for the Autumn Nations Series as the men in white prepare to meet Japan, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.

There was single first call-up for Harlequins’ Cadan Murley, his Harlequins form seeing off potential rivals for a spot in the form of London Irish’s Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Loader.  There have also been four notable returnees to the camp, with Max Malins, Raffi Quirke, Val Rapava Ruskin and Kyle Sinckler all back in the mix.

However, there have been some significant names that haven’t made the cut.

Henry Slade is maybe the most high-profile casualty. The versatile Exeter Chiefs centre seems to have paid a price for the return of Manu Tuilagi to the fold, as well as the form of London Irish’s Will Joseph.

There’s also no room for Elliot Daly, despite his excellent form for Saracens. The British & Irish Lions star has been pulling up proverbial trees at the StoneX, scoring three tries to date this season. Jones’ penchant for not selecting the 30-year-old has struck again.

There is also no room for openside Ben Earl, who is yet to break back into the England squad since last featuring for the side in against Italy in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.

Despite excellent form for Harlequins, there is also no room for Joe Marchant. Marchant’s so-so form in Australia in the summer and a tendency not to hit his domestic potential at Test level appears to have cost the 26-year-old this Autumn.

Despite returning to fitness for Leicester Tigers, British & Irish Lions winger Anthony Watson has been unable to crack back into the squad. His return may have come just a little late for Jones.

Veteran loosehead prop Joe Marler is also nowhere to be seen. Marler made his 250th appearance for Quins over the weekend, but his on-again-off-again relationship with the England squad appears to once again be off.

Fellow Harlequins veteran Danny Care is also left out. Care failed to convince in Australia, despite remarkable form in last season’s Gallagher Premiership, where he was perhaps the best scrumhalf in the competition.

Jamie Blamire has also missed. Blamire has played flanker for Newcastle in recent weeks due to injuries and head coach Dave Walder suspects it may have cost him his England hooker jersey. With Jamie George and Jack Walker injured, one might have suspected he’d make the cut by Jones has gone for George McGuigan, Jack Singleton and Luke Cowan-Dickie.

There is also no room for Joe Launchbury, who last featured for England in the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year. Launchbury, who is a prime target for Premiership clubs after Wasps were suspended from the competition last week, will have to wait for another shot at breaking back in. Interestingly from a selection point of view, Jones has lumped for the relatively unheralded Alex Coles as one of his second-row options.

There are also a total of 14 players that haven’t been considered due to injury (see below).

England squad for Autumn Nations Series:

Backs: H Arundell (London Irish), J Cokanasiga (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Furbank (Northampton), W Joseph (London Irish), M Malins (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), C Murley (Harlequins), J Nowell (Exeter), G Porter (Leicester), R Quirke (Sale), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Sale), J van Poortvliet (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester).

Forwards: A Coles (Northampton), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), T Curry (Sale), E Genge (Bristol), J Heyes (Leicester), J Hill (Sale), M Itoje (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), L Ludlam (Northampton), G McGuigan (Newcastle), V Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester), D Ribbans (Northampton), B Rodd (Sale), S Simmonds (Exeter), K Sinckler (Bristol), J Singleton (Gloucester), H Tizard (Saracens), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), J Willis (Wasps).

Unavailable for selection due to injury: A Barbeary, O Chessum, N Dolly, A Dombrandt, C Ewels, T Freeman, G Ford, J George, S Jeffries, N Isiekwe, H Randall, W Stuart, S Underhill, J Walker.