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Billy Vunipola retained in England Six Nations matchday squad and in leaked line-up for Scotland

By James Dale

Wednesday 8 March 2017 21:11, UK

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Billy Vunipola of England in action during the Old Mutual Wealth Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenha
Image: Billy Vunipola has been included in Eddie Jones' matchday squad to face Scotland on Saturday

Billy Vunipola has kept his place in Eddie Jones' trimmed England squad and has been captured in a leaked possible starting line-up.

Jones, who has cut his initial 30-man squad down to 24 players, appears ready to bring Vunipola straight back in from the outset for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match against Scotland following a three-month injury lay-off after pictures emerged appearing to show the England coach's starting XV.

Tactics boards at the side of the pitch during an England training session at Pennyhill Park
Image: Tactics boards at the side of the pitch during an England training session at Pennyhill Park

Jonathan Joseph, who has also been retained in Jones' final squad, is given a starting role in the image, taken during a training session at their Bagshot base on Tuesday, and could be set for an immediate recall at centre after being dropped for the win over Italy.

The tactics board features line-ups for two training ground scenarios - one a 13 v 15, the other a 10 v 12 - with Vunipola and Joseph featured in the same sides as the majority of players who started against Italy as well as Jack Nowell, who scored two tries from the bench against the Azzurri.

Billy Vunipola's name was included alongside expected starter Maro Itoje
Image: Billy Vunipola's name was included alongside expected starters Maro Itoje and James Haskell

Anthony Watson's name does not appear in the supposed XV, but the winger has survived Jones' last cull ahead of the match at Twickenham, which has seen six players dropped from the training squad.

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Henry Slade, Alex Lozowski and Marland Yarde all miss out on a place among the backs, while forwards Jack Clifford, Teimana Harrison and Mike Williams have also been cut.

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Will Greenwood says Vunipola may have to settle for a place on the bench against Scotland

England's matchday squad to face Scotland:

Also See:

Forwards (13): Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Backs (11): Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

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