I am really surprised that Dombrandt wasn't included. The opening game against France is a potential banana skin, and England may need a player who can change the momentum. Absent Billy, they also need a No 8.
But then, it's Eddie, so a) left field is the order of the day, and comes off more often than it doesn't and b) he will almost certainly break one of his flankers in training camp, which means c) he hasn't selected Alex because he wants to keep him fit for the first game.#
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.