Six Nations 2016: Josh Beaumont in new-look England squad
Last updated on .From the section English Rugby
Sale forward Josh Beaumont is one of seven uncapped players in England's new-look squad for the Six Nations.
Beaumont, son of former England skipper Bill, is joined by Maro Itoje, Sam Hill, Jack Clifford, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto and Paul Hill.
New head coach Eddie Jones also named Dylan Hartley and Chris Ashton in a 33-man squad.
Tom Youngs, Brad Barritt, Tom Wood, Geoff Parling and Danny Cipriani missed out.
Australian Jones, appointed England's first foreign coach in November, wants to "increase the tempo" of England's rugby with players who "express themselves".
'Eddie will use youthful enthusiasm'
Former England centre Jeremy Guscott said he was "surprised" by some of the omissions, but added that Jones was "putting down a marker" for the type of player he wants.
"We've had some big highs, but some even bigger lows, so Eddie will use youthful enthusiasm to get the best out the squad," said Guscott.
Centre Manu Tuilagi, who last played for England in June 2015, will be considered after the Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on 6 February.
He only returned to the Leicester team last week after a 15-month absence with a groin problem.
Captain should be 'imposing figure'
Northampton hooker Hartley has been tipped to replace Chris Robshaw as captain, but Jones is not expected to make a decision on the captaincy for about two weeks.
Guscott said his own choice would be to name "all-round" player Joe Launchbury as skipper.
England's 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody agreed, saying the captain should be a "younger guy" like Launchbury, a "real athlete and imposing figure".
Moody told BBC Radio 5 live that Hartley - who has missed 54 weeks of his career through bans for eye-gouging, biting, head-butting and abusing a referee - "lacks a cool head".
"It's important, though, that Chris Robshaw is retained," said Moody. "It'd be incredibly harsh to blame him for everything.
"Jones has chosen players on form and he's not going to be prejudiced by past performances. He's looking for bite-back from his players."
'The door is not shut for anyone'
Jones replaced Stuart Lancaster, who left his post after England's early exit from the World Cup on home soil in October.
They failed to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time, while minnows Japan - under Jones' command - pulled off a major shock by beating South Africa.
Jones said his first England elite performance squad had a mix of "experience and potential" and was chosen with the "number one priority" of beating Scotland in their Six Nations opener.
"We have chosen a lot of new players on the growth we see in them," said the 55-year-old.
"We see these players developing into a side who can be the best in the world."
Jones told a news conference that he wants to see a "vastly improved" team by the end of the Six Nations, but said fans would not see "some radical new-age rugby".
"No-one plays lovely rugby and comes third," he said.
He revealed he had spoken to the players not selected, saying: "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. The door is not shut for anyone."
'Itoje will be a hell of a player'
The elevation of Sharks number eight Beaumont, 22, was welcomed by Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond, who said: "It dispels the fear that people have to leave to play for England.
"Josh has come through the ranks of the academy and is a credit to everything we're doing at the club."
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said flanker Itoje, 21, was going to be a "hell of a player for England for a very long time if people handle him correctly".
McCall added: "He makes things happen with the ball; he makes things happen without the ball. He's done that week in, week out for us.
"He gets a lot of attention. He deals with it pretty well, but I wish he didn't get so much attention because sometimes we're quick to blow people up in this country and we've just got to be careful with him.
"He's very young, rugby-wise. He's only had six months of senior rugby."
On the recall of winger Chris Ashton, who last played for England in June 2014, McCall said: "His predatory instincts are still there and always will be."
Analysis
Chris Jones, BBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter:
"It's a significant shake-up. Stuart Lancaster did the same thing at the start of his reign. A third of the side that lost to Australia in the World Cup have gone, so it's a big, big statement. Eddie Jones clearly sees something in these young players that they can become world class.
"I think Tom Youngs has been unlucky. In leaving him out Jones is saying Dylan Hartley is the premier hooker in the squad. He's got that rawness and confrontational edge. Jones was Australia coach when England swept all before them, beat Australia at Twickenham and Melbourne, won the World Cup - that's what he's trying to bring back.
"After this World Cup, Jones believes many of that squad haven't shown enough form in an England shirt.
"Manu Tuilagi is fit but not match fit - he may come back in for the fourth match. And Chris Ashton is back deservedly, after 18 months out. Robshaw is still there - he probably won't be captain but could well start play as number six on the blindside."
Squad
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Anthony Watson (Bath), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Bath; injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi, Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Sam Hill (Exeter; injury replacement for Henry Slade, Exeter) Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester), Paul Hill (Northampton), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Bath; injury replacement for Kieran Brookes, Northampton), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley, Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Josh Beaumont (Sale), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester; injury replacement for Dave Ewers, Exeter), Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
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Personally would have swapped Alex Goode for Cipriani (don't think Goode offers the injection of pace necessary at international level). Other than that it feels like a step in the right direction - exciting!
Yes he's made some pretty bad mistakes before, but he's been fighting his way back and it is frankly unfair on him to be missing out when he's playing the way he is now.
A lot of this seems to be tinkering around the edges, rather than wholesale changes, but I guess that's what the system allows. Great to see new caps, but how many will see any game time come the 6N?
Rest of the team looks fantastic, never been fully convinced by Youngs as a Hooker, you could always tell he'd spent a lot of time at Centre rather than at Hook. Would love to see Hartley captain the side, very different fit to Robshaw, may help us!
Great to see Beaumont, Kvesic and Clifford in the squad.
Having said that its been a fair few years since I genuinely looked forward to facing an England team at Murrayfield. Hope to see some good rugby from all the home nations..
The talent is there, it just hasn't worked together lately.
The coaching will be the making of this team (or otherwise).
If we need a squad to beat Scotland would have had Banahan instead
Cipriani is no longer a prima donna and would have thrived under the style of play Jones is promising - comments based on past - 3rd highest points scorer in AP playing for a very average team
Like Henry Thomas but not sure if he is heavyweight enough