England coach Stuart Lancaster is right to ditch Toby Flood says Richard Cockerill Cockerill, at the time, was disappointed at Ford's decision, believing Leicester had done a lot for his development. He explained: "I've never said I don't think George Ford is a good player. He's a good player and he had an opportunity to play every week at Bath and he's taken it. There's no shock about that. He's played in Premiership finals for us and has won medals playing for us. We did a lot for George Ford and vice-versa. Cockerill has seemingly mellowed over Ford's decision. He pointed out that Ford had signed only a two-year deal and added: "You never say never." However, Cockerill refused to back Ford for the expected elevation to the national squad, pointing out Lancaster had plenty of options. George has been in great form and Freddie Burns has been the heir apparent for a long time. And Stephen Myler [Northampton] has been on good form as well. England are not short on options. Billy Twelvetrees has been playing there as well for Gloucester. Alex Goode has also played there for Saracens and is good cover off the bench. So there are a lot of options. Stuart will make the call to suit England and to move things forward. Ford's elevation in place of Flood is expected to be the sole change announced to the 33-man Elite Player Squad as Lancaster will retain injured players such as Manu Tuilagi, Tom Croft, Alex Corbisiero, Geoff Parling and Joel Tomkins so they can be considered for the summer tour to New Zealand. Of more immediate significance will be the additions to the 35-man training squad for the Six Nations, which will also be named on Thursday. It is expected to include Luther Burrell, the in-form Northampton centre, and Bath wing Anthony Watson, both of whom will come into the Elite Player Squad next week as injury replacements. Burrell is understood to be central to Lancaster's plans for the opening game against France in Paris on Feb 1 while Watson could also be in line to make his senior debut given the injuries to Christian Wade and Marland Yarde. Jonny May, the Gloucester wing, is also due to be named in the Six Nations training squad along with Jack Nowell, Exeter's highly rated 20-year-old wing. Henry Thomas, the Sale prop, is also expected to be included as cover for the injured Corbisiero, along with Matt Mullan, of Wasps. Tom Johnson, the Exeter flanker, is likely to be named as a replacement for the injured Croft while Ed Slater, the Leicester lock, is also expected to be included. Lancaster will name an updated Six Nations squad list on Jan 17.