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Eddie Jones: Mitchell will help us evolve

Cape Town - England head coach Eddie Jones is excited about the prospect of working with former Bulls coach John Mitchell. 

It was announced this week that Mitchell had left the Bulls to take up the position of assistant to Jones as England continue preparations for next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan. 

Jones was speaking after naming a 36-man training squad ahead of the November Internationals. 

"The training camp in Bristol is our last opportunity to get the squad together before the November Internationals so it is vital we put down some parameters, particularly with John Mitchell coming in as defence coach," said Jones. 

"We’ll implement a slightly different defence philosophy building on the great work Paul Gustard has done to keep advancing our defence. It’s a great opportunity for the players to work with John and for the team to keep evolving.

"It’s a chance to get the players thinking about England and the way we want to play for England and the way we want to beat South Africa.

"These players have the opportunity to press their chances for selection ahead of the first Test so they will have to be enthusiastic and ready to give their best."

Ahead of the Internationals in November an England squad will be named on October 18 before they fly to Portugal on October 24 to begin their final preparations for the four-Test series.

England will play South Africa (November 3), New Zealand (November 10), Japan (November 17) and Australia (November 24) at Twickenham Stadium.

Earlier this week, Mitchell was confirmed as England’s new defence coach until the end of the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Scott Wisemantel will continue as attack coach for the November Internationals.

England training squad:

Forwards

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs

Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

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