What next for England?

2016 has been good to English Rugby, Coming into the year the national side was at an all time low having been dumped out of their own World Cup at the group stages.

Since then Eddie Jones has led a rival that has seen England rise to number two in the world picking up a grand slam and a series win down under n the process.

So what next? For the players, they will grab a few weeks off before returning to their club commitments but no doubt Jones is already looking to the Six Nations and beyond.

Whilst the majority of the squad is young, there are certain positions that he may start thinking need an injection of youth. Whilst many of the senior players have a good few seasons left in them, the ultimate goal is to be world number one and to do that the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan will be the top priority.

Jones has already ruled himself out of the Lions job, giving himself time to focus on the England squad. The first question that needs addressing is Dylan Hartley. The hooker has been outstanding, and a fantastic choice for Jones’ captain, the Saints man a perfect fit for Jones’ abrasive approach. However, at aged 30 he isn’t going to last forever and his recent history of head injuries can leave his career on a knife edge and Japan may be just too far off. Luckily, England have the second best ball playing hooker waiting in the wings with Jamie George who already has Premiership and European titles in his locker with Luke Cowan-Dickie nipping at his heels.

Elsewhere, the other more senior statesmen in the squad can also be found upfront. Dan Cole, 29, Chris Robshaw, 30, and James Haskell, 31, whilst playing some of the best rugby of their careers under Jones will all be hard pushed to make it to Japan. Whist the treatment and recovery side of professional sport is always improving, the collisions are bigger, the scrums are heavier and the players stronger than ever before the toll on their bodies is huge.

England are, however, leaning towards the All Black approach of having a constant conveyor belt of talent producing young players ready to step in. This tour has seen two young, exciting props in Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinkler join Paul Hill in being capable to step in. The ever impressive Marjo itoje can move into the back row and having already featured their in Australia it could be amove Jones is already eying. Jack Clifford is quickly becoming a brilliant test match player aged just 23, Matt Kvesic just 24, and George Kruis and Joe Launchbury will no doubt be the second row partnership for years to come.

Whilst the backline is made up with a lot of youth, question marks were raised over Mike Brown in Australia. One of the most experienced, and usually most consistent, players in the squad. He didn’t look to be firing on all cylinders down under. However, again there is more than enough cover with Elliot Daly who has lit up the Premiership for years starting to break into the squad.

England is rich with young talent. Players like Kieran Brookes, Matt Kvesic and Ollie Devoto just a few of the top class players who travelled to South Africa with the Saxons.

The last few months have seen success across the board. The U23s, the Saxons and the senior squad. Eddie Jones has vast resources to pick from and no doubt even more will put their hands up in the Premiership. The challenge now is how to integrate these players, to start building a wider group of players that can slowly but surely be bought in to build a rounded squad capable of toppling the world’s best, and lifting the trophy in Japan.