Providing everyone is fully-fit, here's the England XV that I would be fielding:
15 Mike Brown| Harlequins
Very hard not to include Brown, who's dominated at Full-Back for England for a while now. Superb under the high-ball and his footwork skills can swing a struggling England defence into a spirited England attack in seconds. Although Quins haven't been up to scratch so far this Aviva Premiership season, Mike Brown has been one of their standouts so he gets my nod at 15.
14 Jack Nowell | Exeter Chiefs
One of my favourite England players - he's got everything; outrageous strength, stamina and footwork and although he isn't the fastest winger, his defence is one of the best. He was unlucky to have a prolonged injury spell last season and didn't really get the chance to display on the international stage. His performance on the weekend against Leicester was truly world class - he gets my nod at 14.
13 Elliot Daly | Wasps
There's absolutely no doubt in saying that Elliott Daly will be in the England starting XV for every single Six Nations game this year, with the only doubt being where he'll be playing. I don't think I've ever seen Daly have a bad game for either club or country, and he'll definitely be one to look out for. His performances for the British and Irish Lions in NZ last Summer were simply stunning, and I'm giving him the nod at his most natural position, Outside Centre.
12 Henry Slade | Exeter Chiefs
Slade hasn't truly been given the chances in the England set-up that he deserves, and I think his form unduly warrants a starting place this year. I am starting to rate George Ford less and less, and Owen Farrell, although an outstanding Inside Centre, his better position is Fly-Half. Henry Slade's kick to touch in last year's Aviva Premiership Final was simply majestic, and his skills on the pitch are stunning. He gets the nod at 12.
11 Jonny May | Leicester Tigers
Being a big Gloucester fan, when I read the news that Gloucester and Leicester were doing a swap deal with Jonny May leaving and Ed Slater coming in I was mortified. Jonny May is a huge asset to any team - and even with Gloucester's primary focus on winning games through brilliant defensive efforts, he managed to score a fair few tries. Now at Leicester, with a world-class backline, he now is scoring at ease. His pace is something that England cannot miss out on, and he gets the nod at 11.
10 Owen Farrell | Saracens
Quite simply the best player in the world at the moment if you're from the Northern Hemisphere, and the second-best player in the world at the moment if you're from the Southern Hemisphere (with Beauden Barrett then taking that accolade). I couldn't imagine a world without Owen Farrell starting at either 10 or 12, and I've given him a nod at the position he plays week-in-week-out for Saracens, Fly-Half.
9 Ben Youngs | Leicester Tigers
I have so much respect for Ben Youngs, especially having pulled out of the Lions Tour due to his Sister-in-law being diagnosed with terminal cancer. He's the best scrum-half that England has, and should start every Six Nations game. His decision-making is absolutely amazing, and he always keeps a cool head no matter the situation. He gets my nod at 9.
8 Nathan Hughes | Wasps
Hughes qualifies with England through the 3-year residency rule but is Fijian. He is an absolute giant, and his ball-carrying ability is second to none. I wish any player luck if they choose to try and break one of his tackles too. Although I love Billy Vunipola, with the increased risk of injuries I wouldn't want to start him. Nathan Hughes is pure muscle, and Vunipola is a lot more body mass. Hughes gets my nod at Number 8.
7 Lewis Ludlow | Gloucester Rugby
My first really 'out of the box' pick in the XV. Lewis Ludlow has been on insane form for Gloucester Rugby and defensively he has been the standout player in the Aviva Premiership so far. He leads the tackling statistics having made 202 tackles so far this season (~ 17.2 + per game). Against Scotland, Ireland and France we're going to need to be at our best defensively, so he get's my nod at 7.
6 Chris Robshaw | Harlequins
Doesn't ever get the plaudits that he deserves, but Robshaw never puts in a shift at less than 100% effort. He is everywhere on the field, making a tackle here and then turning the ball over there. You really can't play anyone else at 6 for England, he gets my nod.
5 Courtney Lawes | Northampton Saints
Fond of big hits, Courtney Lawes is probably one of my favourite rugby players. Itoje and Kruis at 4 and 5 was, in my eyes, a vastly overrated partnership at to omit Lawes was stupid. England are absolutely stacked in the second-row with Lawes, Launchbury, Itoje and Kruis so it'll get increasingly more difficult for Jones to pick 4 and 5. Lawes gets my nod at 5 however.
4 Maro Itoje [C] | Saracens
I can't even think of the words to describe Itoje; he truly is the king of the second-row. Playing Itoje is like having 16 players on the field, and he (like Robshaw) never gives less than 100%. One of England's key players, to not include Itoje would be stupid. He gets my nod at 4.
3 Harry Williams | Exeter Chief
I hate Dan Cole. He gets called on, maybe, 5% of penalties at the scrum and still gives away a fair few. He plays so illegally that refs don't even notice it. Harry Williams has been my standout tighthead prop of the Aviva Premiership for the last year, or so, so I'd love to see him get the nod at 3.
2 Jamie George | Saracens
There's a reason Jamie George started for the Lions and Dylan Hartley was the first man crossed off when deciding the squad, and that's because George is far superior to Hartley in almost every aspect. Hartley's been a good captain, but to omit the best hooker we have is quite frankly idiotic just to have a distinctly average Hartley captain us. I've given Itoje the armband as I think he would be the best candidate in this starting 15 for the role. Jamie George gets my nod at 2.
1 Joe Marler | Harlequins
The only thing that sets Joe Marler back from the competition is that he loves doing something silly; but when he plays well, he bloody well plays well. I don't think any sane England fan would give anyone else the nod apart from Marler. He gets my nod at loosehead prop.
Feel free to comment your thoughts/your own XV!
Great analysis @harryp3!
I think if the Vunipolae are fit, I'd start them both. Also Anthony Watson is one of my first names on the team sheet, whether at wing or full back.
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Mako is really good in the scrum, but I think he's generally a bit more sluggish than Marler in open-play. I'd prefer to have Watson coming off the bench as some sort of 'super-sub' as I reckon he'd be a better asset to have playing against a tiring opposition.
Eddie Jones certainly won't mind having this kind of selection problem where England are stacked in almost every position.
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Good hands though, Mako. And apparently he can kick drop goals from the half-way line!
It's definitely a good problem rather than a bad one. We're still weak at 3 and 7 and could do with some more competition at 9. But in general, looking good! Whether we'll make it three in a row is another question!
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