The reaction to an announcement of a team or a squad tends to focus on those who have been left out. And so it was last week when Eddie Jones released the 45 players who today start a three-day training camp ahead of the Autumn International campaign.

It was a case of no Billy Vunipola or George Ford rather than the promotion of Alex Dombrandt and Marcus Smith, players who were widely touted last season. And no Mako Vunipola or Jamie George rather than the inclusion of Bevan Rodd and Jamie Blamire, the Newcastle hooker who scored four tries in his first two Tests in the summer.
It was a bol...