Eddie Jones, the England head coach, talks to Ben Te'o during the England training session. Photosport
Eddie Jones, the England head coach, talks to Ben Te'o during the England training session. Photosport
England second five-eighth Ben Te'o out of its Rugby World Cup squad on Monday after he was involved in a scuffle with a teammate at a training camp in Italy.
Te'o lost his place to utility back Piers Francis as coach Eddie Jones sprang a few surprises in his 31-man group destined for Japan next month.
Jones included uncapped wing Ruaridh McConnochie, a former sevens specialist, and also gave World Cup opportunities to hooker Jack Singleton, flanker Lewis Ludlam and 32-year-old halfback Willi Heinz just 24 hours after their test debuts.
They all made their first appearances in Monday's victory over Six Nations champion Wales. Ludlam was particularly impressive in the 33-19 win at Twickenham that prevented Wales replacing world champion New Zealand as rugby's top-ranked side.
As expected, Jones left out former captain Dylan Hartley, halfback Danny Care, first-five Danny Cipriani and fullback Mike Brown, the player New Zealand-born Te'o had an altercation with at a camp in Treviso last month.
Te'o had been prominent in Jones' team when fully fit.
Ben Te'o is tackled by All Black Ngani Laumape during the third Lions test. Photosport
Loose forward Brad Shields, another New Zealand-born player, also missed out on the World Cup after sustaining a foot injury at the same training camp.
"A lot of good players have missed out, we feel for them, I feel for them personally," Jones said. "But as we know the World Cup is an incredible tournament where opportunities can present themselves and all those players who have missed out have been told they have to be ready."
First-five Owen Farrell captains the squad in his second World Cup. England also has the experience of prop Dan Cole, second-rower Courtney Lawes and scrumhalf Ben Youngs, who will play in their third World Cups.
Heinz and first-choice Ben Youngs are the only two No. 9s in the squad. Flanker Tom Curry is in after he left the field against Wales with a shoulder injury that Jones said was only minor.
Lock Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy will be at the heart of England's forward pack.
Australian coach Jones has significant World Cup experience — he was in charge of the Australia team that lost to England in the 2003 final and was a consultant with South Africa when the Springboks won in 2007. Jones also masterminded one of the greatest Rugby World Cup upsets when his Japan team beat South Africa four years ago.
Jones named his England squad nearly a month before the deadline and well before the other major contenders.
"We have taken the decision to go early because of what we learned from previous campaigns," he said. "We want the squad to know early and now we can get on and be the best prepared England side there has ever been, ready to win the World Cup."
England plays Tonga, the United States, Argentina and France in the group stage at the World Cup.
Squad:
Forwards: Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Mark Wilson.
Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (captain), George Ford, Piers Francis, Willi Heinz, Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May, Ruaridh McConnochie, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.
