England coach Eddie Jones rings the changes for Fiji clash
Henry Slade and Semesa Rokodunguni among the players retained while Billy Vunipola is passed fit.
England coach Eddie Jones is braced to make changes for the second autumn international against Fiji after making five alterations to his squad for the clash at Twickenham. Marland Yarde and Tom Wood, who started the 37-21 win over South Africa, are the stand-out names omitted while uncapped Bath lock Charlie Ewels is confirmed as the lock replacement for the injured Dave Attwood.
Attwood, Wood, Yarde, Josh Beaumont,T ommy Taylor, Ellis Genge and Ben Morgan all return to their clubs for this weekend's Premiership fixtures after being overlooked by Jones. Ewels, Teimana Harrison, Alex Goode, Henry Slade and Fijian-born winger Semesa Rokodunguni are those who benefit having all not featured against the Springboks.
Number eight Billy Vunipola is included in the 25-man squad despite not training this week due to "upper body soreness" after a collision with South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth. Wasps back-row forward Nathan Hughes could yet make his full international debut - following a cameo appearance on Saturday [12 November] - and could be one of two members of the England team to play against the country of their birth.
Despite making a number of changes, Jones has insisted he will not be handing out caps without justification. "I want people to deserve their opportunity," the Australian said, according to The Guardian. "To start for England has to be the proudest thing of their lives and to do that you have to earn it. We want to keep improving the team. I'm only going to select people who are better than we have at the moment or, potentially, can be better. If you're a fly-by-night you're not going to start for England. I don't believe in that.
"You go to Fiji and everyone is throwing 15-metre torpedo passes, flicking the ball through their legs and side-stepping. If they can't do that they get bored. If they get bored they don't want to play and, when they do that, you get points against them. We are going to win the game and I want to win it conclusively. It doesn't mean playing bad rugby – just being smart against them."
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