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Stuart Barnes: 'England need Steffon Armitage'

Stuart Barnes claims that England need to replace Chris Robshaw with Steffon Armitage at openside flanker, if they are to succeed over the next four years.

Former England fly-half Stuart Barnes has suggested that Steffon Armtiage must be brought back into the international game, if Eddie Jones's team are to succeed.

Armitage did not play for his country under former coach Stuart Lancaster, as England are not allowed to select players plying their trade outside the Aviva Premiership.

However, Barnes has claimed that the 30-year-old has to be drafted in at openside flanker, in place of captain Chris Robshaw.

He told Sky Sports: "What you say and what you do are two different things. We know that because everything Eddie Jones has said and written about England as a columnist or Japan coach has nothing to do with what he said at his first press conference.

"He is now saying he will accept the RFU have their ruling on overseas players and he will go with it. Eddie Jones is a winner and openside is the most important position in the modern game. Steffon Armitage is the hole in this England team. He is what England need.

"It is inconceivable he will not try and find a way to get Armitage back. Maybe he will go over to Toulon and try and affect a deal to get him back to England. England just don't have a seven at the moment."

Jones has already committed to not selecting English players in foreign leagues.

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