Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 58 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 71 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59 caps)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
Brad Shields (Wasps, 8 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Jack Singleton (Saracens, uncapped)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 9 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 41 caps)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps)
Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Backs
Danny Cipriani (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 30 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 40 caps)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
Ben Spencer (Saracens, 3 caps)
Ben Te'o (unattached, 18 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 32 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps)
In camp for rehabilitation
George Kruis (Saracens, 32 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
First thoughts:
1.) Surprised at no Mike Brown or Alex Goode (Goode less so), but the inclusion of Watson who was injured all season until only April?
Rather mind-boggled by this decision, even though he's looked pretty sharp since then. Not convinced he's had enough game time to deserve a place in the squad.
I can understand the arguments against including Goode (though personally I would have brought him at least in the training squad after the season he's had) but I cannot understand at all why Brown has been left out. Imo he's been both our best and most reliable 15. Seems to me to be our safest pair of hands for those high balls and I can't understand why he isn't there.
2.) Delighted that Spencer is named in the squad, but baffled how Heinz is picked over Care, especially when you consider Care has been Eddie's go to back-up scrum half since forever. After arguably his best season, Eddie drops him for the WC?
Seems odd to me. Ironically, I'd rather have had him drop Youngs and bring Care.
3.) Personally happy that Cipriani is named in the squad. I know this is a very divisive topic in English rugby at the moment, and I can understand the arguments against his inclusion, but I believe that Cipriani, even though he has under-performed for England in the past, offers something uniquely different to what other English fly-halves offer - the creative spark he has, and ability to open up a defence is something I think we personally could do with.
I wouldn't be starting him, but I definitely would have him there as a secret weapon late on in a game when we need something different. For me, he offers more than George Ford.
4.) My inner Saint is loving that both Ludlam and Francis have made the squad, but at the same time, I don't think either of them should be there. Ludlam has had a great breakthrough season, but he is more of a 7, and I'm pretty sure Curry has that spot pinned down after the season he's had. Francis I don't really understand at all, and there's 2 or 3 centres I'd have picked over him.
5.) Not quite sure how Shields is in but Dombrandt is left out? Dombrandt has had a phenomenal season, and did well for the baa-baa's. I'd have liked to have seen him there instead, but not a huge issue.
6.) I really struggle to think of one decent reason why Ben Te'o should be in the squad other than simply that Eddie likes him. He's had a pretty average season as well. Like with Francis, there's 2 or 3 centres I'd have liked to have seen over him.
7.) Dan Cole in yet another England squad. Why? He's been atrocious this year and offers us nothing imo.
Assuming Kruis, Nowell and Mako are all fit, we're looking at 7 players getting cut.
Knowing Eddie, he is likely going to stick with his tried and trusted stalwarts, and therefore I expect him to cut Ludlam, Francis, McConnochie, Heinz, Cipriani, Singleton and Shields.
Personally, though, I would be cutting Cole, Te'o, Ford, Heinz, Francis, Ludlam and McConnochie.