Jones, who helped South Africa win the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, has been working remotely since telling England he wanted to leave and Borthwick declined to discuss his post-autumn future. “It’s not something I’m considering because as you’d expect my attention is on the games that are right in front of us,” Borthwick said.

Steve Borthwick has defended his England coaching regime by insisting the sudden departure of Felix Jones and Aled Walters is not a reflection of the environment he has created.

Bath Rugby club captain Ben Spencer has been named as one of three scrum-halves in England head coach Steve Borthwick's 36-player training squad for the forthcoming Autumn Nations Series. Northampton Saints star Alex Mitchell has not been included in the squad as he continues to recover from a neck injury,