Eddie Jones claims there could be up to 15 England players in the British and Irish Lions squad for next year’s tour to New Zealand.
Jones has masterminded 13 consecutive wins since replacing Stuart Lancaster as England coach and the latest triumph came on Saturday when Australia were crushed 37-21 at Twickenham.
That completed an unbeaten calendar year, the first time since 1992 England have achieved the feat, and means Jones’ men will go into next season’s Six Nations as favourites to retain their title.
Jones thinks a successful Six Nations will see England’s players dominate Warren Gatland’s Lions team.
“The Lions selection will be based almost entirely on what happens in the Six Nations. I think if we have a dominant Six Nations I would expect anywhere from 10-15 of our players to be in the Lions squad,” he told BBC Radio Five on Monday.
When pressed on how many players were likely to be in the starting line-up, Jones added: “I’ll leave that to Warren Gatland but a number of players have put up their hand strongly.
“I think you have guys who went on the last Lions tour like Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell will be at the head of the queue.”
The Lions will play three Tests against New Zealand, the first on June 24 at Auckland’s Eden Park.
*Agence France-Presse
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