Six Nations 2016: Jones has missed ‘perfect chance’ to blood new faces against Scots, says Steffon Armitage

Armitage adds to criticism of England coach over omission of Itoje and Daly for Six Nations opener

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Steffon Armitage, the flanker locked out of international rugby because of his national team’s “England places for England-based players” policy, still made an impact on the Test scene ahead of the start of the Six Nations Championship by criticising selection for this weekend’s Calcutta Cup match with Scotland at Murrayfield.

“I’ll back England but I’m disappointed not to see a few new faces in the team for the first game,” the Toulon back-rower, whose omission from the World Cup squad last year was one of the major talking points of the campaign, said to 888sport.com.

“Elliot Daly has been one of the stars of Premiership and European rugby this season,” he added. “Maro Itoje has been outstanding. Not to see them in the group… I don’t know what kind of message it’s sending, because they’ll be wondering what they have to do to get in there.

“You have to put these players in when it’s their time and you feel with Itoje that he’s got there. He’s doing it week in and week out for Saracens.

“Sometimes it’s best to throw people in at the deep end because otherwise, when are you going to do it? This is the perfect time.”

Daly, the Wasps centre, and fellow newcomer Itoje travel to Edinburgh as reserves, and if the injured Northampton forward Courtney Lawes fails to complete training today, Itoje will be on the bench.

Eddie Jones, the head coach, believes the two players have 60-cap careers ahead of them, but does not consider Murrayfield, so often a graveyard for the English, to be the ideal launching pad.

England wing Chris Ashton will find out today if his appeal against a 10-week ban is successful and he can play some part in the Six Nations. Saracens have contested the length of the ban, for making contact with the eye area of Ulster’s Luke Marshall. The hearing was adjourned overnight.

Read the full 888sport.com interview with Armitage here including his thoughts on Dylan Hartley and his England rejection.