Post-Six Nations - which 31-players make England's plane to Japan and the Rugby World Cup?
On balance, it was a productive Guinness Six Nations for England.
The second halves against both Wales and Scotland will be a concern, but overall England logged 320 impressive minutes of rugby across the course of the championship and head coach Eddie Jones will be even closer to finalising his squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Just four games remain for England now, before they face Tonga in their tournament opener in Sapporo in September. Those games will see them taken on Wales home and away, before hosting Ireland at Twickenham, and then finally welcoming Italy to Newcastle to round out their Rugby World Cup preparation.
We have taken a look at the potential 31-man squad that Jones could take to Japan below.
Back three – Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson
Daly and May pick themselves at this point, given their incumbent status in Jones’ regular matchday XV, whilst Nowell has been consistently involved as either a starter or a replacement, and also boasts the versatility to cover at outside centre if needed.
Watson, if fit, would likely travel, with the Bath flier capable of playing on either wing or at full-back to a high standard. We have Cokanasiga joining him given the unique physical ability he brings to the mix and the standards he has shown so far in international rugby. Chris Ashton could crash the party, too, and although we have gone with a 18-13 split in favour of the forwards, if Jones opts for a 17-14 split, Ashton would be a strong candidate for the extra spot. Don’t rule out a Mike Brown recall, either.
Centres – Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o and Manu Tuilagi
Slade and Tuilagi seem like certainties after the Six Nations and Te’o has always been a favourite of Jones, consistently selected whenever fit. Te’o’s inclusion also allows for England to go the power game that worked so well against Italy and is something they may well deploy against both Tonga and the United States.
We have gone for Joseph to accompany that trio because he offers something different to the power of Tuilagi and Te’o and the ball-handling of Slade, not to mention the fact he was involved in the larger England squad early in the Six Nations, despite still having very little rugby under his belt following his injury last year. Ollie Devoto, Piers Francis and Alex Lozowski are the others to keep an eye on, although none boast too much international experience or recent involvement in an England 23.
Half-backs – Owen Farrell, George Ford, Dan Robson and Ben Youngs
In all honesty, this is a guess on Robson’s inclusion. The Wasps scrum-half started the Six Nations as Youngs’ deputy, but his opportunities were few and far between and now another international window has passed with England knowing very little about their options behind Youngs.
Farrell, Ford and Youngs are all inked in and Slade is capable of covering at fly-half if required, allowing England a little more flexibility elsewhere in the squad. Danny Care could come out of the international wilderness to offer an option instead of Robson, whilst Ben Spencer is the other nine floating around the England squad. It seems as if Danny Cipriani‘s chances are getting slimmer by the week, too.
Front row – Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola and Harry Williams
The starting front row of Vunipola, George and Sinckler from the Six Nations are all certainties, whilst history shows that Jones has always taken three hookers to Rugby World Cups, paving the way for captain Hartley, if fit, and Cowan-Dickie to join that starting trio.
We have England taking three tightheads, with Cole and Williams coming into the mix, and just the two looseheads, thanks to Cowan-Dickie’s previous time at the position and ability to cover in training should a player pick up a minor knock. Genge gets the nod over Ben Moon in this scenario based on a fit Vunipola being able to start, but Jones could easily flip it and take three looseheads and just two tightheads, with Sinckler having proven particularly durable.
Second row – Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes
A nice and simple one, with these four locks having established themselves as England’s go-to options in the second row over the last three years. It’s hard to see any one of them not travelling for any reason other than injury, which could potentially prompt a call to Charlie Ewels or Nick Isiekwe.
Back row – Tom Curry, Nathan Hughes, Brad Shields, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola and Mark Wilson
The Six Nations starting trio of Wilson, Curry and Vunipola all feel firmly entrenched and as if their tickets have already been booked, whilst Hughes and Shields have consistently been around the England squad over the last year. Underhill has had his injury problems but when fit has starred for Jones’ side.
The back row selection could go a number of ways, though. The ability of Itoje and Lawes to be options on the blindside could see England opt to cut a back rower and pick an extra prop or wing, whilst Chris Robshaw brings experience and leadership to a team that many said were struggling for the latter in the Six Nations. Ben Earl has been on the bubble of the squad this season, too, and is one of the few players to be a genuine option at six, seven or eight, something which is valuable in the short turnarounds and limited squad sizes of the Rugby World Cup.
Watch: Jack Nowell reflects on England’s second-half meltdown against Scotland
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments