Wednesday 26 October 2016 21:37, UK
Stuart Barnes believes England will go unbeaten in the autumn, and says Argentina pose the biggest threat.
England have won all nine of their games under head coach Eddie Jones, including a 3-0 series whitewash of Australia in June, and will face South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and the Wallabies at Twickenham in November and December.
Despite England's rising injury toll, Barnes believes that the squad can continue their winning run throughout the Old Mutual Wealth series, and says the Pumas, not the Springboks or Wallabies, pose the biggest threat to Jones' side.
"Having watched the Rugby Championship, I think England should go unbeaten," Barnes told Sky Sports News HQ. "There are signs of improvement from Australia but there is chaos coming out of South Africa.
"Looking at all those games, if Argentina get their game right with a powerful pack and some real talent behind the scrum and organisation at half-back, I still see them as the likeliest team to beat England but everything has to drop for them.
"This England team still looks pretty solid. Although there is some youth in the squad, it is going to be an experienced-looking team. I think they will be able to get front foot ball against just about everyone.
"Ford is playing pretty well, Farrell is just kicking everything, I would be a little bit surprised and disappointed if England don't go into the Six Nations still on this incredible unbeaten run."
Jones has named six uncapped players for the series, with lock Charlie Ewels, full-back Mike Haley, back row Nathan Hughes, fly-half Alex Lozowski, prop Kyle Sinckler and centre Ben Te'o all in line for possible debuts during the four Tests.
Reflecting on the newly-named squad Barnes said: "It's an interesting squad. You have young players like Josh Beaumont left out and guys Eddie Jones hasn't had a lot of time for, players like Ben Morgan and Tom Wood, back in the squad.
"Dave Attwood was much maligned by the last regime but he's a hard man and an intelligent player.
"Danny Cipriani seems to be completely out of it. I don't think he'll figure under Eddie Jones. Lozowski is there - he's a young player coming through and that's a statement of intent, but he's a good player."
With England's back row resources depleted by injuries to James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Mike Williams and Maro Itoje, Barnes believes Hughes will be deployed in the No 7 jersey.
"I think [Jones] is going to do what he did in the third Test when his experiment with Teimana Harrison didn't work out and he basically said 'forget the numbers'. He will play Chris Robshaw as his six, alongside Nathan Hughes," Barnes added.
"Eddie Jones loves a ball-carrying forward and he understands the vitality of getting over the gain-line.
"Nathan Hughes to me seems like the player to be wearing seven but I think they will play left and right with Robshaw taking control of the ball scrounging work on the floor."
