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Former England centre and BBC pundit Jeremy Guscott says the number of uncapped players named by Eddie Jones shows it is a "new era".

On Leicester hooker Tom Youngs' omission, he told BBC Radio 5 live: “It is a huge sign Eddie Jones is putting down a marker for the type of player he wants. 

"It is a surprise some of the guys that have been left out, but there is an appetite to improve and get better and with so many uncapped guys it is a new era.

“They come in with the most experienced players there and a chance to build something special. Eddie has to inspire them to play the best rugby they possibly can."

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Northampton full-back Ben Foden is happy to see Chris Ashton recalled...

No word as yet on who Eddie Jones will name as England captain but Dylan Hartley is the man tipped.

The Northampton hooker, 29, was dropped from the World Cup squad after a series of disciplinary breaches.

The squad will meet at Pennyhill Park on 24 January to prepare for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, 6 February.

Jones said:  “We have selected a squad of players who we think can go to Murrayfield and win. This is our number one priority, to start with a win, so we have picked a squad which is a mix of experience and potential."

So, to confirm, the seven uncapped players are Josh Beaumont, Jack Clifford, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto, Sam Hill, Paul Hill and Maro Itoje.

Tom Youngs, Danny Cipriani, Tom Wood and Geoff Parling are among the high-profile omissions but new England coach Eddie Jones says "the door is not shut for anyone" after naming his first squad.

“I have spoken to some of the players who have not been selected," he said. "Naturally they will be disappointed and that is how it should be. They know what they need to do to get back into this squad.

"There is no such thing as a shut door because of injuries and loss of form. There will always be opportunities to anyone playing consistently well in the Premiership and Europe.” 

England head coach Eddie Jones says he has "chosen a lot of new players on the growth we see in them".

He added: “The long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby. 

"We see these players growing into England players of the future and developing into a side who can be the best in the world. Our aim is to develop a squad where there is depth and competition in every position."

There are a few injury whys and wherefores to note about the squad...

• Gloucester's Matt Kvesic is a replacement for Exeter's Dave Ewers
• Bath's Henry Thomas is a replacement for Northampton's Kieran Brookes
• Bath's Ollie Devoto is a replacement for Leicester's Manu Tuilagi
• Exeter's Sam Hill is a replacement for club-mate Henry Slade

As expected, Dylan Hartley is back among the forwards:

Forwards: Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Here's the full list of backs... Chris Ashton is recalled after not being included in the World Cup squad:

Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

That's confirmed - Tom Youngs and Danny Cipriani are not in the England squad.

There are seven uncapped players, among them Sale's Josh Beaumont - son of 1980 Grand Slam-winning captain Bill.

Daily Telegraph rugby correspondent Mick Cleary believes Tom Youngs may have been dropped by new England coach Eddie Jones.

While we're on rugby, how about this player in Devon who dived over the wrong line?

Take a bow, Brixham centre Tom McLean...

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The 33-man group is very likely to include exciting newcomers Elliot Daly, the Wasps centre, Saracens forward Maro Itoje and Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford.

Exeter back Sam Hill and Sale Sharks number eight Josh Beaumont - son of England's 1980 Grand Slam-winning captain Bill Beaumont - have also been mentioned as potential squad debutants.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilaigi - not considered by Lancaster for the World Cup after an assault conviction - could return, as could Saracens' in-form winger Chris Ashton and fellow wing Semesa Rokoduguni of Bath.

New England coach Eddie Jones is about to announce his first squad in 10 minutes.

Dylan Hartley is expected to be named as captain in succession to Chris Robshaw with the Six Nations Championship starting on 6 February.

A lengthening injury list means Jones will be without Exeter centre Henry Slade and back row Dave Ewers, Bath lock Dave Attwood, Leicester lock Ed Slater, Northampton props Kieran Brookes and Alex Corbisiero, and Gloucester wing Jonny May, for some, or all, of the tournament.

Exeter wing Jack Nowell and Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan should recover from less serious injuries but Morgan is unlikely to be picked.

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With MPs to discuss whether to replace God Save the Queen as England's national anthem for sporting events, we asked for your suggestions for an alternative - and you can vote on the top right of this page.  

Joe Doherty: England should definitely sing something like Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Steve Davenport: Heroes in honour of David Bowie - worked at the Olympics and might get our teams winning?

G S Webster: Wonder if the BBC will give permission to use Match of the day theme tune. The crowd would certainly join in.

I'll have a word upstairs - straight after I get off the phone with the Queen. 

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Andy Murray is preparing for the Australian Open... by visiting the theatre. 

He's been to the city's Regent Theatre to take in Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running musical Cats.

And it gets a positive review from the world number two.

South Africa are set to have an all pace attack at the Wanderers for the third Test against England, starting Thursday, after releasing spinner Dane Piedt from the squad.

Piedt played in the first two Tests of the series, taking nine wickets at an average of 40.66.

Piedt and reserve batsman Rilee Rossouw will instead play for their franchise teams before rejoining the squad for the fourth Test.

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Electric pace, the goalscoring touch, it's clear to see why so many clubs have been linked with signing Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

Now, in an interview with Sport Bild, external, the 26-year-old striker gave us a stunning display of spatial awareness... but distanced himself from any move. 

"In football nothing lasts for ever," he said. "But my contract runs until 2020, that is a fact. I feel happy, still want to achieve lots with Dortmund and win titles, that is also fact. 

"I am here and nowhere else - not at Arsenal, not at Barcelona, not on the moon - you can see that." 

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Incidentally, here's why those up the road aren't too keen on God Save The Queen... at one time, there was a verse containing the phrase "rebellious Scots to crush".

Maybe that explains why the Scot on the Sportsday team has spent the morning bristling...

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