The England 23 to play Australia at the RWC: Twist or stick?
Whilst uncertainty has blighted the Rugby World Cup over the last week due to the arrival and aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, England’s preparations for their quarter-final with Australia have gone relatively smoothly.
They may have had their game with France cancelled but it was done so well in advance, England were able to get out of Yokohama before the typhoon hit, they retained their spot at the top of Pool C and were able to depart for Oita and begin preparing for the challenge of the Wallabies. There are valid concerns that not playing in 13 days will leave the team rusty, though they have upped the intensity in training to help replicate for that lost match.
With no new injuries, no short turnaround and no travel disruption due to the weather, England are not in a bad place heading into the game at Oita Stadium on Saturday. Eddie Jones’ players should be fresh and there will be no concerns over fatigue or workload when he selects his side.
We have taken a look at what that side might look like, as England attempt to improve on their record of three wins and three losses against Australia at Rugby World Cups, with the two nations set to meet for the seventh time in the competition’s history.
Front row: Joe Marler, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler
There will definitely be a temptation to go with the fit-again Mako Vunipola on the loosehead, although he is one of the bigger losers from the game against French being cancelled, as it has denied him an opportunity to get back towards total match fitness. Marler has been playing well and the impact that Vunipola could offer from the bench is potentially a factor that could swing this game.
The selections of George and Sinckler are rather straightforward, as George’s set-piece work has been excellent out in Japan and Sinckler has anchored the scrum proficiently, as well as offering his trademark playmaking ability in the loose.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Eddie Jones speak to the press after England’s win over Argentina in Pool C
Second row: Maro Itoje and George Kruis
Itoje may well be the first name on any teamsheet for Jones and he has backed that up with good form at the tournament so far, particularly with his defensive lineout and breakdown work, where he has been a thorn in the side of opposition teams. The value Kruis brings, particularly as a banker ball at the front of the lineout when under pressure from the opposition and as a defensive communicator and general around the fringes, has not been overly needed given the relative ease with which England have won their three games so far, but it could be crucial against Australia.
Back row: Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola
This selection could potentially go a different way with both Mark Wilson and Lewis Ludlam having done very little wrong so far, although you get the feeling that Jones has become particularly enamoured with this trio as a combination. The mobility and contact area skills of Curry and Underhill give England a genuine counter to Australia, should Michael Cheika opt to play both David Pocock and Michael Hooper.
As for Vunipola, he is the obvious call at No 8, despite not setting the tournament alight just yet. He has generally been involved closer to the ruck and has got through a real workload of carries, even if seemingly not given the freedom to roam that the likes of Sinckler, Itoje and Underhill have been of late.
Half-backs: Ben Youngs and George Ford
This axis has worked well so far and unsurprisingly so, given the amount of time they have spent together at club and international levels over the last four years. The only way this would seem to change is if Jones were to move Owen Farrell back to fly-half, in order to crowbar in one of Henry Slade or Jonathan Joseph alongside Manu Tuilagi in the midfield. It’s potentially an interesting change of dynamic from the bench, though it is unlikely he opts to go in that direction with his starting XV.
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Centres: Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi
Why change a wining formula? This pair have done well so far as a combination and the creativity and array of passing that Ford and Farrell provide seems to get the best out of Tuilagi as a direct threat and a player capable of utilising the outside break. Jones is a big Slade fan and Joseph has looked like a genuine ‘finisher’, as England like to term it, coming from the bench, but it would be surprising to see a change here, especially as Tuilagi has arguably been England’s standout back so far in the tournament.
Back three: Anthony Watson, Jonny May and Elliot Daly
This is perhaps the most intriguing area of Jones’ side moving towards the announcement of his team later this week, as both Jack Nowell and Joe Cokanasiga offering interesting dynamics and the competition for spots is so fierce. Watson has looked electric in the moments he has been able to get his hands on to the ball and although May has been kept quiet by his own industrious and free-scoring standards, he has continued to excel in the aerial game and as a gunner on the kick chase. They both helped England tick along well during the group stage.
Whilst Daly will have had more influential attacking games for England, his performance in defence, in the air and in terms of his positional play against Argentina was one of, if not his most reliable outing in the 15 jersey at international level. Those are areas of his game that have been critiqued over the last couple of years, especially when comparing him to Mike Brown or even Watson at full-back, but that game was a nerve-settler for even the most ardent of Daly critics.
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Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell
Most of the bench is self-explanatory, with Cowan-Dickie and Lawes both having provided valuable impact so far in the tournament, whilst we touched on Vunipola earlier as he bids to get back to 100%. Ludlam over Wilson is a form call, with the Northampton Saint having provided great physicality as a ball-carrier off the bench and should Billy Vunipola go down with injury, Ludlam is the most proficient way of replacing the Saracen’s lost carrying impact.
It’s a bench that leans the way of Exeter Chiefs, with Slade and Nowell, rather than Bath, with Joseph and Cokanasiga, and that is a call based purely on Jones’ decision to select them both in the 23 to play Argentina. Joseph and Cokanasiga arguably offer a greater ability to change the style of England, should the side be struggling, but Jones have shown a proclivity to double down with player types on his bench and reinforce what the XV are capable of doing, rather than going in a different direction.
Watch: Mike Tindall and Matt Giteau on whether or not England or Australia can win the Rugby World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments