Six areas to watch for England against Wales ahead of RWC squad being named
England and Wales are both set to get their Rugby World Cup preparations underway on Sunday, as they meet at Twickenham in the first of their warm-up games for the tournament in Japan next month.
The two sides have taken contrasting approaches to the game, with only a third of England’s starting XV typically considered to be among Eddie Jones’ favoured options, whilst Warren Gatland, more or less, has picked as strong a Welsh XV as is available to him.
This could well pre-empt a more rotated Wales side a week later in Cardiff for the return fixture, with England then going to a number of their more tried and tested players and combinations.
Regardless, there’s plenty to watch out for at Twickenham, especially with Jones set to announce his Rugby World Cup squad on Monday, and we have highlighted six areas particularly worthy of attention in this new-look England side.
Will Anthony Watson move into full-back?
With Mike Brown reportedly left out of the latest England squad because of a training ground altercation with Ben Te’o, there is even more riding on Watson being able to take on the full-back duties should Elliot Daly go down with injury.
Watson has excelled in the role at club level with Bath but has played the position less than a handful of times under Jones. If fit, Watson is a certainty to be in the 31-man squad and any interchanging with Daly on Sunday would give him the opportunity to ease any possible concerns Jones has over the 15 jersey.
Combination of Tom Curry and Lewis Ludlam
Having played at seven for the entirety of his England career so far, Curry was all set to move across to six to accommodate Underhill, although a late change has seen Ludlam come in for the Bath man and Curry will continue to play on the openside. Can these two thrive together in the same unit?
The numbers on the back of the jersey don’t mean as much as the balance in the loose forwards, but it’ll be interesting to see who packs down on the openside at scrum time, with Ludlam potentially providing an extra yard or two of pace. Curry will have seniority, although Jones has form for players playing in positions different to the one indicated on their back.
Willi Heinz’s debut
If there is one persistent critique of Jones’ tenure with England, it’s his management of the scrum-half situation. Despite being 32 years of age and having been in England since 2015, this is Heinz’s first international cap.
Jones may well take just two scrum-halves to the Rugby World Cup, something he previously opted to do with Australia and Japan, as well as in multiple international windows with England. A strong showing from Heinz against Wales could see off the challenge of Ben Spencer.
Bench impact of Jack Singleton and Joe Marchant
Both of these players will be making their debuts if they come off the bench and at least one of the two will be eyeing an unlikely bolter spot in the 31-man squad. Singleton, who has seemed to edge ahead of Tom Dunn lately, is a more likely squad member as the third hooker in the group.
As for Marchant, he would need to force his way passed Henry Slade and Jonathan Joseph to have a shot of making the squad, or at least perform so well as to raise the possibility of one of those two moving into 12 in the absence of Te’o. If Piers Francis impresses, Marchant’s chance would seem to be gone.
Lineout efficiency
No Jamie George or Maro Itoje and only bench spots for Courtney Lawes and George Kruis, the English lineout is going to be under extreme scrutiny on Sunday. There’s no doubt that Alun Wyn Jones will fancy his side’s chances of disrupting England at the set-piece.
The start is a good opportunity for Luke Cowan-Dickie to show that his throwing is sharp enough to compete with George for a spot in the XV in the bigger games and Charlie Ewels will need to be effective as a jumper, an area he usually prospers in, to have any hope of forcing his way into England’s established quartet of locks.
Is Ruaridh McConnochie a genuine bolter candidate or does Joe Cokanasiga cement a spot?
At the beginning of the season you may have laughed at the prospect of McConnochie making the RWC, but it has quickly turned into a very possible scenario. With Chris Ashton out, Nathan Earle injured and Jack Nowell in a race against time to be fit, suddenly a door is open in the back three.
Daly, Watson and Jonny May are surely inked into Jones’ squad, whilst Cokanasiga offers a unique skill set among England’s back three options, though the group is far from set in stone. A strong showing on Sunday could cement Cokanasiga into the group, leaving the former sevens star’s hopes of making the cut hanging on the fitness of Nowell.
Watch: England’s coaches speak to the press ahead of the game with Wales
Comments on RugbyPass
You forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood 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.
7 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
7 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 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 comments