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Eight England changes, including a curious start for Jonny May
Steve Borthwick has confirmed an England team to play Fiji on Saturday in their final Summer Nations Series outing that has eight changes from the XV comfortably beaten in Ireland last weekend – including a start on the left wing for Jonny May, a player who wasn’t part of the official squad of 33 for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
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Having copped an avalanche of criticism for their tame 10-29 surrender in Dublin, a defeat followed by the midweek confirmations of bans for red-carded duo Owen Farrell (vs Wales) and Billy Vunipola (vs Ireland), head coach Borthwick altered more than half of his starting team for a clash with the Fijians that will take place at a half-full Twickenham.
The London area will be affected by a train strike on Saturday, while the previous night’s match at England Rugby HQ between the All Blacks and the Springboks has also affected ticket sales to watch Borthwick’s struggling charges in their final outing before they travel to France for a finals campaign that commences on September 9 versus Argentina in Marseille.
There was speculation that Marcus Smith would be the starting No10 versus the Fijians, but his promotion from the bench wasn’t one of the four changes to the backline as George Ford is a repeat selection in that shirt.
Instead, when the team was confirmed at 12:45pm on Thursday, Max Malins and May replaced Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly on the wings, while Ollie Lawrence exchanged roles with the benched Joe Marchant to line out for the first time in a 13/12 partnership with Manu Tuilagi.
With Smith and sub scrum-half Danny Care both kept rooted to the bench, Ford will start at No10 with Alex Mitchell taking over at No9 from the excluded Ben Youngs. It is Mitchell’s first appearance this month as he was excluded from the England training squad at the end of June but earned an August 14 recall to take the RWC squad place of the ruled-out Jack van Poortvliet.
It was only around an hour later when the shattering reason for May’s surprise inclusion was finally explained. Speaking at his team announcement media briefing at Pennyhill, Borthwick revealed that Watson had been ruled out of the entire World Cup with a calf problem and could now be replaced in the squad of 33 by May.
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He also explained that Daly had suffered a knee injury and that Arundell had encountered a “freak back spasm”, setbacks that made them unavailable for selection to face the Fijians.
There are also four changes to the starting pack from last weekend. At hooker, Theo Dan was named to start for the first time with Jamie Georgie dropping out. Dan Cole will be the starting tighthead for the first time since September 2019 versus USA in Kobe; Will Stuart moving to the bench with Kyle Sinckler missing out.
Elsewhere, Ollie Chessum, who came on as a sub last weekend 21 weeks after a training ground ankle dislocation, will start alongside Maro Itoje at second row.
With Ben Earl switching to No8 to fill the vacancy left by the suspended Vunipola, Jack Willis came in at openside for his first August start after two sub appearances. He packs down in the back row with match skipper Courtney Lawes, who is making his 100th Test appearance.
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On the bench, there is a first Summer Nations Series selection for Jack Walker, who has finally come through his two months in-camp injury rehab. That means that Tom Curry, who is still unavailable, is the only one of the current RWC 33 not to be selected to play this month.
England insisted, though, that Curry is clear of his ankle issue and is set to resume full training. Lock George Martin was also unavailable for selection this weekend due to a knock.
“After another eventful and dramatic encounter against the No1 team in the world in Dublin last weekend, we are delighted to be back at Twickenham with our home supporters to welcome an in-form Fiji team,” said Borthwick.
“All of the Summer Nations Series Test matches have provided us with an opportunity to continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup in France.
“Fiji have proven themselves to be a strong opposition and we look forward to what we expect to be an exciting and challenging game. Rest assured that we will be looking to convert the opportunities we have recently been creating week-on-week into points on the scoreboard.
“At this our last Test before heading to France, I want to thank our fans for all the support you continue to give us, and it means a lot to us that you will be behind us all the way on our World Cup journey.”
England (vs Fiji, Saturday – 3:15pm)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 25 caps)
14. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 20 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 52 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 72 caps)
10. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 84 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
1. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 51 caps)
2. Theo Dan (Saracens, 2 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 101 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 69 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes – captain (Northampton Saints, 99 caps)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse, 12 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 17 caps)
Replacements:
16. Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 81 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
19. David Ribbans (Toulon, 7 caps)
20. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 20 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 89 caps)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 23 caps)
23. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 18 caps)
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments