Eddie Jones appointed new head coach: a G'day to be English?

So, it has been officially announced that Aussie Eddie Jones will be taking over from Stuart Lancaster as England's new head coach. As the first non-English head coach of the national team Jones has the mammoth task of dragging England out of their post-world cup slump and back in to winning ways.

For the past three years Jones has been the head coach of Japan, a side who have clearly flourished under his leadership after beating the likes of South Africa and winning the 2015 Pacific Nations Cup. Jones has also coached his own national team of Australia, as well as assisting and coaching high end teams such as Australian club Brumbies and Saracens here in the premiership.

His credentials seem more than satisfactory to steer the wheel of English rugby in the right direction, but how will the fans and players react? While many may see the appointment of an overseas coach as being the breath of fresh air that this England side needs there are some patriots who would prefer to "keep it within the family", as they say.

However, Jones isn't the only new face as a result of the RFU's shake-up. Forwards coach Graham Rowntree and assistant coach Andy Farrell have also been axed from the lead coaching set up. An old friend of Jones', Glen Ella, has been tipped to assist England on their attacking game play during their upcoming series tour of Australia. Steve Borthwick will replace Rowntree as forwards coach, with Paul Gustard taking charge of England's defence.

All eyes will be firmly set on Jones as he journeys down under with England to face his home nation this June. Time will tell if Jones' overseas influence will help bolster England's success.

Time closes in on Lancaster to make final cut

It is officially less than a month until England hosts one of the biggest and hotly anticipated events in the sporting calendar; the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Set to be nothing short of spectacular, the World Cup has already drawn an international audience whose eager attention has inevitably shifted towards the drama of squad selection. So, which players have done enough to secure their spot in England's line up, and who has narrowly missed out on wearing the red rose?

It's safe to say that head coach Stuart Lancaster has faced his fair share of headaches regarding world cup selection over the past few months, and with the big event mere weeks away these are surely set to intensify. Sensational displays of talent over the course of the premiership season led to the selection of an initial 50-man squad which embarked upon rigorous training and preparation. With each player vying for inclusion in Lancaster's final 31, intensity reached an all-time high within the England camp; who could hold their hand up the highest?

As Lancaster and his coaching team assured both fans and players, training was not the only factor to be considered in squad decisions. The international warm-up matches were also pivotal in the selection process, and with England pitted against longstanding rivals France there was everything to prove. During both matches new players appeared eager to make their mark upon an already esteemed England team while experienced heads proved right Lancaster's faith in them over past seasons. Similarly, an unavoidable consequence of this cut-throat competition led to underwhelming performances from some and concerning errors made by others. 

Public opinion has become increasingly divided over the possible selection choices faced by Lancaster and his coaching team. While stalwart and well-known England caps such as the likes of Brad Barritt and Chris Robshaw have been deemed by fans as integral to England's success, many have called for fresh blood in the form of new recruits, with both Sam Burgess and Henry Slade central to discussions featured on various social media sites.

So, D-Day has finally arrived and time has come for Lancaster and his team to make up their minds. Who has booked their ticket to possible World Cup glory, and who has narrowly missed the boat?