1
The England verdict on fifth different midfield combo in seven games
England are hopeful their latest midfield combination in the struggling Steve Borthwick era won’t fluff its lines next Saturday at Twickenham. The decision to pair Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant together at centre to face Wales is the fifth different partnership named by Borthwick in his seven-match tenure.
ADVERTISEMENT
The coach began his reign as Eddie Jones’ successor by putting Owen Farrell in with Marchant last February against Scotland but after switching Farrell inside to fly-half, the next three Guinness Six Nations matches witnessed a midfield combination of Lawrence with Henry Slade.
England finished the championship with Manu Tuilagi teaming up with Slade and they picked up the thread five months later by selecting Guy Porter and Marchant together for last weekend’s opening Summer Nations Series fixture away to Wales.
Porter and Slade, who appeared off the bench at the Principality, were then both omitted from the Rugby World Cup squad named by Borthwick last Monday.
The head coach suggested at that announcement that a brand-new partnership of Tuilagi with Lawrence was a possibility heading into the World Cup, but Tuilagi missing training the next day at Teddington put that idea on ice for now.
Instead, Borthwick has gone with a different new combination in Lawrence with Marchant and it will intriguing to see what unfolds as Lawrence, in seven of the eight starts he has previously made with England, had Slade as his midfield partner.
Farrell versus Scotland in February 2021 was Lawrence’s only other centre partner as a starter, but with the England skipper set to line out at fly-half in this warm-up rematch against the Welsh, Borthwick is excited by this weekend’s fresh 12/13 selection.
ADVERTISEMENT
“What I am expecting from every player is they bring all the strengths onto the pitch in the England shirt,” began Borthwick after he named an England team on Thursday that had 11 changes from the XV that started last weekend in Cardiff.
“Ollie Lawrence performed really well throughout last season, had a challenging time with what happened with his club [Worcester]. He changed clubs (to Bath) early in the season and I thought he played really well in the Six Nations in the four games that he played.
“Joe Marchant was part of the Six Nations and I thought he played very well on Saturday in Cardiff so we have got two excellent centres there, led at fly-half by Owen with his vast experience and his ability to perform at the very top level.”
Skipper Farrell added: “This squad is full of talent littered throughout the whole squad. We are looking forward to it. Personally, having not played for a while, I’m itching to play. Can’t wait.
ADVERTISEMENT
“And then with the boys that are outside, they [Lawrence and Marchant] are two talented lads that hopefully can get into the game and show their strengths, which I am sure they will.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments