Six Nations 2018: Zach Mercer named in England squad as one of eight uncapped players for Italy clash

Zach Mercer has been named in Eddie Jones’ 35-man Six Nations squad for the first time after being promoted from his role as apprentice, but Bath prop Beno Obano has been left out due to injury, deepening England’s loosehead prop injury crisis ahead of the opening match against Italy.

Jones has named eight uncapped players in the squad – including apprentice fly-half Marcus Smith – with Mercer joined by Newcastle flanker Gary Graham and backs Nathan Earle and Harry Mallinder.

First-choice loosehead Mako Vunipola is joined by Exeter Chiefs’ Alec Hepburn and Harlequins’ Lewis Boyce, both of whom are uncapped, with Joe Marler suspended and both Ellis Genge and Matt Mullan injured. Obano was in line for selection, but suffered an injury in Bath’s defeat by Scarlets last Friday, meaning that one of 24-year-old Hepburn and 21-year-old Boyce will likely be on the bench for the opening game of the Six Nations against Italy on 4 February.

Jones also has major injury troubles in the back-row, with both Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes sidelined with long-term injuries, meaning that Bath No 8 Mercer is selected for the first time in the main squad after serving as an apprentice for the best part of a year.

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One of Exeter’s Sam Simmonds – who has just three caps following his debut last November – and Mercer will likely start at No 8 against Italy, but there is no space for Simmonds’ Exeter colleague Don Armand as he continues to be omitted from the international side despite his impressive club form.

Another Chief in the injured Jack Nowell is included in the squad – interestingly as an ‘inside back’ and not with the rest of the wings in the ‘full back’ category – having missed Exeter’s impressive victory over Montpellier last weekend.

Northampton Saints’ Mallinder is included in the squad after impressing in the last few weeks during their upturn in form, while Ben Te’o is also included despite his continued injury problems this season. Jones has elected to stick with just two scrum-halves in Danny Care and Ben Youngs, meaning that both Dan Robson and Gloucester’s Ben Vellacott – who emerged as a surprise contender for the squad despite playing for Scotland’s Under-20s – are not included.

Jones is without a number of players for England’s opening game of the Six Nations in Rome in two-and-a-half weeks’ time, with Vunipola and Hughes joined by the likes of Elliot Daly through injury and both James Haskell and Marler through suspension.

“I have selected the strongest available squad to prepare for our opening match against Italy. It is important we start the tournament well and we will spend the next two weeks training smart and really fine-tuning our game plan for the Italy match next month.

“I am expecting a really positive training camp in Portugal and while we have a few players unavailable through injury or suspension, it has provided opportunity for others who will be desperate to be involved in the Italy game.”

England's Six Nations squad

Full backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Nathan Earle (Saracens) *

Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints) *

Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)

Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)

Inside backs

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)

Alex Lozowski (Saracens)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins) * **

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Back five

Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) *

Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

George Kruis (Saracens)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Front row

Lewis Boyce (Harlequins) *

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) *

Jamie George (Saracens)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) *

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

Players unavailable

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)

Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

James Haskell (Wasps)

Nathan Hughes (Wasps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Matt Mullan (Wasps)

Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)

Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)

Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Uncapped *

Apprentice player **