Eddie Jones explained Ben Te’o’s shock omission from England’s World Cup squad by declaring he was simply not good enough to be selected.

Until he was involved in an altercation with team-mate Mike Brown during a social event at the squad’s warm-weather camp in Treviso a fortnight ago, Te’o was considered a certainty for Japan 2019.

The 32-year-old Test Lion was an ever-present under Jones, was picked to play for England even when having spent months out injured and toured Australia in 2016 before having turned out for his club Worcester.

But in dramatic fall from grace, he has been overlooked for the 31-man squad that will depart for the tournament on September 8, losing out to the unheralded Piers Francis who has been limited to five caps.

Jones said: “I’m not going to go into reasons why Ben Te’o hasn’t been selected. We’ve had that conversation with Ben. He understands it.

“Whether he agrees with it is another matter. But we’ve had that discussion and he’s not in our top 31 players at the moment.”

Sevens specialist and 2016 Olympic silver-medallist Ruaridh McConnochie continues a remarkable year by being present as the only uncapped player on the strength of an impressive end to his debut season for Bath.

Lewis Ludlam
Lewis Ludlam was included in the 31 (Tim Goode/PA)

Flanker Lewis Ludlam has been plucked from obscurity at Northampton in another pick that would have been unthinkable as recently as May and he profits from Brad Shields’ foot injury.

Hooker Jack Singleton and scrum-half Willi Heinz made their debuts in Saturday’s rout of Wales and are also chosen.

“Firstly, I think it’s always nice to bring new blood in. It freshens everything up. When you have the enthusiasm that young players do, it adds to the squad,” Jones said.

“Ruaridh we’ve been watching quite closely through the club season. I was impressed by him.

“Once he came into camp, he cemented our impression of him. He’s a very good worker, a very good communicator.

Ruaridh McConnochie
Ruaridh McConnochie is yet to make his England debut (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“He’s a mature boy who has played a number of positions, so he was a pretty easy selection in the end.

“Lewis absolutely came from nowhere. We’ve been watching him in club rugby. He did particularly well and again we thought we’d roll the dice and bring him into camp to see what he could offer.

“Every week he got better and against Wales we saw a display that’s only just the start of his career.”

Jones has gambled by taking only two scrum-halves – with Heinz deputising for Ben Youngs, who is first choice in the position – while George Ford will offer emergency cover.

The decision to pick just five props means Harry Williams misses out, Kyle Sinckler and Dan Cole travelling as the two tightheads to complement looseheads Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler and Ellis Genge.

George Ford, centre
George Ford, centre, may have to operate in an unfamiliar position (Nigel French/PA)

“We’d like to take three in every specialist position but that would leave us short in other positions, so we’ve decided to go with two at scrum-half and two at tighthead,” Jones said.

“There are risks involved in it, but there are risks involved in other positions as well.

“We’ve got contingency in George Ford who has played a little bit at half-back.

“He’s been doing some training there and he’ll continue to do that. If we need a third half-back then we feel he can fill the role for a period of time.”

Tom Curry (shoulder), Jack Nowell (ankle), Henry Slade (knee) and Sam Underhill (toe) are expected to recover from their injuries before England set off for the World Cup.