Odogwu, Randall and Obano three uncapped names in squadEddie Jones not worried by Saracens’ contingent’s lack of rugbyEddie Jones, currently running the national side from self isolation, has included the uncapped Wasps back Paolo Odogwu and Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall in a 28-man squad for the forthcoming Six Nations championship. Jones says he wants
England to be an “impossible” team to play against but will be without both his first-choice props, Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola, for the opening game against
Scotland on 6 February because of suspension and injury respectively.
The experienced Jonathan Joseph has also been omitted, with the selection of Odogwu and Randall, both aged 23, clearly an attempt to try and enhance England’s line-breaking ability with ball in hand. Jones is a fan of the former’s ball-carrying power and enthusiasm and has been monitoring the alert, nippy Randall’s development for some time. Both players are potentially still eligible for other nations, which may partly explain Jones’s sudden enthusiasm to see them in a white jersey. Odugwu’s father is half Italian while Randall grew up in Wales, attended Llandovery College and was once man of the match playing for Wales against England in an under-16 international.