Eddie Jones must look at Saracens sextet says Alex Sanderson

Forwards coach at Saracens, Alex Sanderson, reckons Mako Vunipola and his ultra-competitive pack colleagues can be the bedrock of England‘s Six Nations campaign.
Sanderson believes at least six of his top performers should be in Eddie Jones‘ first squad – including their impressive rising lock star Maro Itoje.
Sanderson told TRP: “I’ve been impressed with our whole pack and Mako Vunipola’s hit a rich vein of form and must surely start.
“We’ve always known he’s outstanding and he was probably unlucky not to get as much game time as he deserved in the World Cup.
“He’s come back and proved why he’s the best loosehead in the country, not just in his scrummaging but in his ball-carrying skills, physicality and defence.
“Jamie George has also been a legend for us and has gone from strength to strength.
“There are three really good hookers in Jamie, Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs and in the past Jamie has wrongly been accused of not being physical enough, but he’s answered those questions this season and his set-piece is second to none.
“He’s the best scrummaging hooker in the Premier- ship and although Dylan and Tom have their own points of difference, I’d always pick Jamie. Teams function around a man of his calibre who can play pretty much any game plan you want.”
Sanderson believes locks George Kruis and Itoje, plus back rowers Will Fraser and Billy Vunipola, must also be on Jones’ radar.
He added: “The second row is our engine room and our set-piece has been going well, so a lot of that is down to George and Maro.
“The pressure in the scrum they exert and their nous at the lineout sets them apart and Maro’s got an old head on young shoulders. He deserves a crack, as does Billy Vunipola who is playing the best rugby he’s ever played.
“How physical has Billy been? He was cutting people in half against Wasps last week and has been looking like a man possessed.
“The outsider is Will Fraser. It might be a touch too soon for him to start for England, but he should certainly be in the wider squad.
“He’s only going to keep improving and he’s one of those lads who never thinks he’s had a good game. He’s never complacent, never sits on his laurels and he’ll only become stronger as he gets more games after his injury.”
NEALE HARVEY