Six Nations 2016: Eddie Jones retains England squad after Italy win but Josh Beaumont returns to Sale

England have opted to retain the 23-man matchday squad that cruised to a second consecutive Six Nations win over Italy last weekend, as preparations continue for the visit of defending champions Ireland on 27 February. Eddie Jones' side, who beat Scotland in their opening match, recovered from an unconvincing start to run in five tries during a comprehensive victory at the Stadio Olimpico, with Jonathan Joseph notching an impressive hat-trick either side of efforts from George Ford and Owen Farrell.

The competition now takes a scheduled one-week break, but the 2011 winners will nevertheless remain in training at their base at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey. Josh Beaumont, who travelled to Rome but did not make the bench, is the only player cleared to return to club duty. The versatile young forward is set to be available for Sale Sharks' Aviva Premiership trip to Worcester.

Centre Ollie Devoto may also have been released, but instead remains with England to act as cover for Alex Goode after the Saracens full-back sustained a slight ankle injury during an 11-minute replacement cameo against Italy. Bath are set to remain without several key backs as the under-performing West Country outfit host Wasps just one week removed from the latter's devastating 64-23 drubbing of leaders Saracens at Allianz Park.

Speaking after his second win since replacing Stuart Lancaster in November, Jones told Sky Sports: "We wanted to be two from two and we're two from two. We did some good things in the second half, in the first half we allowed Italy into the game.

"The first half set the second half up for us and I was pleased by the way that we put them away. We could have easily scored 60 points out there. I thought we were quite brutal in the second half, we came in off the line and really hurt the Italians in the end.

"We weren't expecting to score a lot of points in the first half, we were expecting to do that in the second half and that's how it turned out. We've had two games and two wins and no major injuries, so we're sailing along pretty well at the moment."

24-man England squad retained by Eddie Jones after Italy win:

Forwards: Dan Cole, Jack Clifford, Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Paul Hill, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola.

Backs: Mike Brown, Danny Care, Ollie Devoto, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Alex Goode, Jonathan Joseph, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.