Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan is included in the England squad for the autumn internationals, but there is no place for team-mate Danny Cipriani. Morgan, 29, last featured for England in 2015, but earns a place amid a back-row injury crisis. Bath’s uncapped wing Joe Cokanasiga, 20, is one of eight uncapped players in the 36-man squad. Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell, who led the team this summer in Hartley’s absence, are named as co-captains. Bath’s 21-year-old Zach Mercer, who led England Under-20s to their age-grade World Championship final in 2017, is the only other number eight in the squad alongside Morgan. Morgan’s last England appearance was in the World Cup pool-stage defeat by Australia in October 2015 but he told BBC Sport earlier this week that he still hoped for a recall, despite apparently being out of favour with coach Eddie Jones. Cipriani, who started England’s victory over South Africa last time out, was named as the Premiership’s player of the month for September, but is left out in favour of Farrell, Leicester’s George Ford and Saracens utility back Alex Lozowski. Wing Chris Ashton is included despite being yet to make his competitive debut for Sale. The 31-year-old, who last played for England in June 2014 and returned from French side Toulon this summer, was banned for seven weeks following a dangerous tackle in a pre-season friendly. England face South Africa on 3 November before matches against world champions New Zealand, Japan and Australia on successive weekends Agencies
