Eddie Jones retains same 23-man squad for Ireland game

England boss sticks with group who beat Scotland and Italy in opening fixtures

Ollie Devoto remains with Eddie Jones’s England squad as cover for Alex Goode. Photograph: Reuters
Ollie Devoto remains with Eddie Jones’s England squad as cover for Alex Goode. Photograph: Reuters

The Six Nations cranks up for England next week, moving out of what Sir Clive Woodward calls the second division after victories over Scotland and Italy, and Eddie Jones has retained the 23 players who were on duty in Rome.

It is the first of two fallow weekends in the Six Nations but the 23 will remain with England rather than return to their clubs. They will be joined by the Bath centre Ollie Devoto, who was an unused replacement on the opening weekend in Edinburgh against Scotland.

Devoto has stayed with the squad to act as cover for the full-back Alex Goode who picked up what was described by England as a minor ankle injury. The Sale No8 Josh Beaumont, who also travelled to Rome, will return to his club.

It indicates Jones will not make changes to the matchday squad for next week's match with Ireland, his first home match since taking over from Stuart Lancaster. The starting lineup may not stay the same withMaro Itoje and Joe Marler impressing from the bench at the Olympic Stadium.

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England: Forwards Dan Cole (Leicester), Jack Clifford (Harlequins) Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens). Backs Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ollie Devoto (Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Anthony Watson (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

(Guardian service)