'New era' for England? Not with that XV!

As we predicted, bar two that is, the line-up for England's opening 6 Nations encounter with Scotland is very much a familiar site.

1. Joe Marler.
2. Dylan Hartley (C).
3. Dan Cole.
4. Joe Launchbury.
5. George Kruis (we predicted Courtney Lawes).
6. Chris Robshaw.
7. James Haskell.
8. Billy Vunipola.
9. Danny Care (we predicted Ben Youngs).
10. George Ford.
11. Jack Nowell.
12. Owen Farrell.
13. Jonathan Joseph.
14. Anthony Watson.
15. Mike Brown.

But with there having been so much promise for this England side to warp into something fresh and new, we ask why are we seeing much of the same?

When Jones made his original squad announcement last month he brought in 7 uncapped players into the fold. This lead fans to believe that Jones had acknowledged that things weren't working with our current squad and a new approach was needed.

Yet as we look over the announced XV to face Scotland we feel bitterly disappointed that Jones has named a squad that is very similar to the one named by his predecessor, Stuart Lancaster.

England's potential answer to the 7 position, Matt Kvesic.

We're gutted that players like Maro Itoje didn't even make the bench and that Elliot Daly was not given a chance either.

Matt Kvesic has once again missed out on a place in the squad as Jones opts for Haskell for 7.

We're still missing out on a quality openside. Chris Robshaw had been our number 7 under Lancaster but he never really looked like the openside we needed. All Jones has done is swap Lancaster's 6 and 7 around and I believe this massively wrong. Haskell, as good as he can be, is not the 7 England need.

Farrell at 12 is another interesting call but not a surprising one. What we can't have is another constant change of midfield. If you look at any top side in world rugby you will see that they keep the 12+13 partnership consistent. Lancaster did not do this and it showed on the big stage. However, it is widely considered that when powerhouse Manu Tuilagi is fully fit, he will be in the midfield. Who will be partnering him? That's a whole other debate.

Scotland are luckily a very good side now and they had a tremendous World Cup. What this means is that England will be thoroughly tested and it will very interesting to see if Jones' selection has been the right one.

Obviously, as England rugby fans we want the answer to be yes. But will it be?

All I'll say is don't expect fireworks from this England side as it just looks like a re-jingled Lancaster XV. A XV that didn't even make it out of the group stages of their own World Cup.