England Set To Call Up Army Star Rokoduguni

Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni could be the surprise name in England’s elite player squad for next month's autumn internationals.

Uncapped Rokoduguni – a Fiji-born serving soldier in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - has lit up the Aviva Premiership with his electric running so far this season and could be named in the 33-man party to be announced on Wednesday lunchtime, with Chris Ashton potentially the man to make way.

Jack Nowell, Jonny May and Marland Yarde are likely to be the other wings selected which would mean no place for Ashton.

Danny Cipriani and Freddie Burns both won caps in the summer, but they make be dropped with England coach Stuart Lancaster expected to name Bath No 10 George Ford and Northampton’s Stephen Mylder as the back-up fly-halves to Owen Farrell.

Bath’s glittering back line is expected to feature heavily in the squad.

With Manu Tuilagi almost certain to miss the entire QBE series against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia because of a groin injury, Jonathan Joseph is in line for selection following his superb start to the season at the Rec alongside Ford, Kyle Eastmond – who has been passed fit for the November games – Rokoduguni and Anthony Watson.

Captain Chris Robshaw is set to remain at the helm, despite pressure for his openside spot from James Haskell and Will Fraser, though Northampton’s Calum Clark is also being tipped for a recall to the squad.

Bath head coach Mike Ford says Rokoduguni can offer England something different on the wing.

“When I was at Newcastle, we played in a tournament in Portugal at Easter 2012 and Roko was playing for the Army,” he said.

“We were 31-0 up and I reckoned we were going to get 80. Then Roko got three tries and it finished 31-31. I made sure we signed him when I moved to Bath. You’ve just got to put him out there and see if he can step up to the level. He is certainly the form wing with six tries in seven matches for us this season.

“The key is to get him doing the same thing he’s doing for England as he is doing for Bath. What you don’t do is try to change him into something he is not. He is a free-style, free spirit rugby player and that is what makes him exciting.”