Courtney Lawes out of Six Nations opener

Courtney Lawes has been ruled out of the Six Nations opener as Eddie Jones narrows his squad down to 29 players for Saturday’s Six Nations opener.

England will travel to Edinburgh to take on Scotland in the Calcutta Cup on Saturday 5 February (4.45pm KO).

Exeter Chiefs lock Jonny Hill is also ruled out with a foot injury. Last week, Exeter Director of Rugby said: “Jonny Hill has – some people call it a stress fracture, some people call it a stress reaction – to his lower leg and high ankle. He has been in a boot to offload that.”

Yesterday, forwards coach Matt Proudfoot confirmed that Lawes was yet to return to contact training as he recovers from a concussion in early January.

He said: “We have to follow the process. With concussion it is important we follow that process. If we have 1% of doubt, we won’t play him!”

He will remain with the squad as he continues to progress through return to play protocols.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Proudfoot confirmed that weather conditions will play a huge part in team selection and game strategy. Saturday’s Edinburgh forecast suggests a wet and windy evening awaits.

Proudfoot said: “The wind is a huge factor at Murrayfield. You need experience of how the wind swirls around the ground.”

On selection of the team, he said: “The way Eddie selects a team is forensic with multiple factors at play,” with weather being one of them.

Both teams will be announced on Thursday morning. The 29-man England squad is:

FORWARDS
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps) 

BACKS
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)

By BEN REDWOOD