Jonathan Joseph in line for England start with Daly released

Elliot Daly was one of ten players sent back to their clubs on Tuesday, in a move that virtually guarantees Jonathan Joseph will start England's RBS Six Nations opener against Scotland in the number 13 shirt.  

Joseph and Daly were the two players believed to be competing for the starting outside centre berth at Murrayfield on February 6 but the Wasps back was ultimately one of the ten-man contingent released back to his domestic club by Eddie Jones. 

Northampton prop Paul Hill, Harlequins back row Jack Clifford and Bath centre Ollie Devoto were the only survivors of the seven-strong group of uncapped players Jones had initially selected for his 33-man Six Nations squad, with all three now in line to make their test debuts in Edinburgh next month.

Clifford beat out Sale's Josh Beaumont and Gloucester's Matt Kvesic to offer bench cover for the back row, and with Joe Launchbury and George Kruis favourites to be named as the starting locks against Scotland - with Courtney Lawes among the replacements - there is no room either for Saracens' stalwart Maro Itoje.

Head coach Eddie Jones is believed to favour George Ford and Owen Farrell as his fly-half - inside centre pairing, so Devoto has been retained to cover both midfield positions.

In total, 12 of the team toppled 33-13 by Australia in October which sealed England's premature World Cup exit, have survived Jones' cull.

England name their starting XV to face Scotland on Thursday week.

England 23-man squad retained for the RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland:

Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), J Clifford (Harlequins), J George (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, captain), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hill (Northampton), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), C Robshaw (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens). Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), O Devoto (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J Nowell (Exeter), A Watson (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester).