15. Mike Brown
Didn’t have a brilliant tour of New Zealand, but given the amount of rugby he played last year that can be forgiven. One of England’s stand-out players last season, always seeming to beat the first man when counter-attacking. A strong start to the season at Quins has cemented his place as England’s first choice.
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
His form may have cooled off slightly in the last couple of weeks, but the way he absolutely ripped apart defences in the opening rounds of the Premiership was truly astonishing, to the point that if he wasn’t given a debut against New Zealand, it would be a shock. Brings the kind of unpredictability in attack that England have lacked for some time.
13. Brad Barritt
It was very tempting to opt for Henry Slade here, but given selections in the rest of the backline, Barritt is a must. His defensive nous and leadership is the perfect foil to the men inside him, allowing them to flourish in attack. It is worth remembering, too, that one of his best games in an England shirt came at 13, against Scotland in the 2013 Six Nations.
12. Kyle Eastmond
Concerns about his defence were squashed on the New Zealand tour in the summer when he dealt well with the physical threat of Ma’a Nonu. What he offers with ball in hand is unparalleled in the England squad, and he should be given an extended run in the team to prove it, just as other have before him.
11. Marland Yarde
Has his detractors, but he was England’s most effective back against the All Blacks in the June tests. He is still an excellent finisher, and could flourish if given decent ball by the likes of Eastmond and Ford inside him.
10. George Ford
This is pretty wishful thinking as Farrell is likely nailed on, but given that the Saracens man hasn’t played much this year – and has looked rusty when he has – there surely isn’t a better time to see what Ford can do than in this series. As a playmaker he is superior to Farrell, but the big question remains over his goal-kicking in the high pressure situations. This autumn would be a great time to test that out.
9. Danny Care
Hasn’t been in great form for Harlequins, but isn’t under that much pressure from his rivals as they’ve not been that impressive either. Still incredibly dangerous when he gets a sniff of a gap, and possesses insatiable acceleration over the first five metres. Box-kicking must be tight against the All Blacks.
1. Joe Marler
In a position of relative depth for England, Marler’s greatest strength is his seeming immunity to injuries. With Corbisiero and Vunipola crocked, he is the obvious choice, although Matt Mullan has been impressing for Wasps. Marler has a chance this autumn to prove that he should be England’s number one no.1 regardless of injuries.
2. Dylan Hartley
Rob Webber is pushing hard but Hartley is still comfortably England’s first choice hooker. Solid at the set-piece and capable of some strong bursts with ball in hand, he is easily the most rounded number two available to England at the moment.
3. Dave Wilson
Needs to be wrapped in cotton wool, given the paucity of experience amongst the other tightheads in the squad. Bath’s scrum hasn’t always functioned well this season, so he could do with silencing some of the doubters with a few big performances this autumn.
4. Joe Launchbury
An engine that simply never stops, Launchbury does an immense amount of work for which he doesn’t always get the credit. His tap tackle on Rob Kearney in last year’s Six Nations was an astonishing, lung-busting feat that few could have accomplished. A genuinely key cog in the England pack.
5. Courtney Lawes
It was very tempting to include Attwood here, and there’s a sense he might be the right man to start against the more power-oriented Springboks in week two. Against the All Blacks, however, Lawes’ roving tendencies and offloading abilities are an absolute must.
6. Tom Wood
Under immense pressure from the in-form James Haskell, but the combination of Wood and Robshaw is one that is still yet to let England down, and indeed one that has fared well against New Zealand in the past. Wood might not be the flashiest player but his pure graft is invaluable.
7. Chris Robshaw (c)
England’s captain has bounced back superbly from the early-season mumblings in some parts that he perhaps does not deserve his spot on England’s openside any more. Often does a lot more for England than it is claimed, and his role as a link man in the wide spaces is not dissimilar to the way the All Blacks themselves use their loose forwards.
8. Billy Vunipola
Hasn’t made the strongest start to the season, but in the absence of Manu Tuilagi, England will need his rumbling, gainline-smashing carrying to give them front foot ball from which the likes of Care, Ford and Eastmond can create.
Replacements:
16. Rob Webber - Good form for Bath and a strong tour of NZ means he is the obvious choice for this spot.
17. Kieron Brookes - Still very raw, but showed up well in New Zealand and Lancaster has proved in the past that he does not yet trust Henry Thomas’ scrummaging
18. Matt Mullan - The cornerstone of what has been an impressive Wasps set-piece so far this season. An able deputy for Marler.
19. Dave Attwood - Provides more ballast than either of the starting locks, which can bolster the set-piece as the opposition begins to tire in the second half.
20. James Haskell - If he has sufficiently recovered from his virus, Haskell deserves the chance to get on and translate some brilliant club form to the international stage.
21. Ben Youngs – Lee Dickson has struggled for game time, but even so Youngs is under pressure for this spot. Desperately needs some good cameo appearances.
22. Owen Farrell – A combination of injury and Charlie Hodgson’s age-defying form has robbed him of game time this year. Could bring a steadying influence off the bench.
23. Anthony Watson – After being included in the squad for the past season, doesn’t he deserve a chance to actually play for England by now? Would benefit from the presence of other Bath men in the backline.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Yet another centre pairing prior to the World Cup, are we to assume that if he were fit Manu would slot straight back into the 13 shirt? The term impact sub gets thrown around a lot, but Manu would offer a LOT of impact when fresh, running at tired defenders.
For me, this selection is spot on for the first game but as you say, I think Lancaster will surely pick Farrell instead of Ford. I would love to see Ford start but am seriously worried about his goal kicking with no other option in the starting 15. I expect Ford to come off the bench and Farrell to 12 maybe.. although if it’s tight at the end vs NZ (and Farrell is playing ok) then I can see Lancaster chickening out and not making the change.
I think the centre option is the most sane available, with Barritt able to marshall Eastmond inside him. What other option is there with Burrell likely missing and Twelvetrees seemingly out of chances. Slade… I can’t see it happening vs NZ.
As for Watson.. this would be good to see, but will Lancaster pick him (a squad addition) ahead of other players in the original 33 like Nowell, May or god forbid… Goode!?
Think it is a bit harsh to say that he’ll chicken out of it. If the game is tight and hanging in the balance then I would say not bring on an inexperienced player would be good tactics and common sense.
Remember back to France in the Six Nations when he made changes which were generally viewed as pre determined and got slated for them.
Yes maybe it is harsh, but I was thinking from the point of view of giving experience to Ford. If he isn’t to start I really think he needs a decent amount of time as a sub, not some token 5 minutes at the end.
I to was worried about Ford’s kicking ability, but his kicking stats for this season read something like 40 out of 46 which is up around 85%, so I’m increasing less worried about that. The thing I’d worry about most is his tackling, which has also improved this season, I feel at international level (especially against the All Blacks and South Africa) he’ll get steamrollered at least 3/4 times a game which will at some point cost us a try. Having said that I’d still start him because I think he is a quality player and Farrell’s lack of game time goes against him.
I wouldn’t be unhappy with this selction, but we all know that Ford will be on the bench with Goode, who’ll be their insurance place kicker if Ford has issues.
I imagine Watson, or ANO player will come into the reckoning in the later tests once Farrell has proved his fitness, so they cna move him to IC and act as auxilliary place kicker.
The sad news is that injury permitting Lancaster all but confirmed Goode’s place in the world cup squad yesterday. He set out the make up of the sqaud (i.e. how many props, fly halves would be needed) and specifically mentioned how using it would be to have a fullback who can cover 10. Funnily enough it wasn’t pointed out that in Cipriani they have a 10 who could cover full back…
For the most part I like the look of this team, not totally convinced by Yarde but he did score tries in NZ over the summer.
Lancaster I think will go for Morgan on the bench (I firmly believe Billy is now an 80 minute player and therefore Morgan isn’t needed) will start Farrell, and will probably have Goode on the bench, pushing Brown to one of the wings if he brings him on.
Prior to the European games I was fancying the Bath boys to really shine, but given they have come off the back of two losses I hope it hasn’t affected them too badly. Desperately want Eastmond to have a good game else I fear he will be cast aside.
Billy is definitely capable of playing 80 minutes, and I think SL will have Haskell on the bench if fit. He is the one player who could cover all three positions. The idea of Wood or Robshaw at 8 is unsettling, but Haskell has played there for England before, and can do the job. Morgan can not play at 6 or 7 though.
Exactly the team I would pick at the moment bar swapping Yarde for Nowell. I like one raw game breaking winger and one clever footballing winger (i.e. can kick and has positional nous- Julian Savea and Ben Smith are the perfect pairing)- for me the physical winger is Roko based on form, so that leaves Nowell, May or Watson (all three have played a lot at 15). Gone for Nowell as despite lack of game time I really like what he brings to the table, tracks the ball well (not as well as Ashton but still good) and as he’s stocky and powerful, he has that Brown ability to break the first tackle.
I do agree that the sensible pick in midfield is Eastmond and Baritt- especially if another small guy Ford gets game time at 10. Though Slade has been brilliant defensively this year- certainly if that’s something England feel is essential to the 13 being paired with Eastmond, he would be above 12T or Joseph.
I don’t buy this idea of BB at 13. The Calcutta Cup game is of little relevance; Scotland haven’t had a centre of Conrad Smith’s quality since Jim Renwick! BB is simply not quick enough to cope out wide.
JJ or Slade should play at 13.
I worry for us if we have JJ eastmond and Ford starting the ABs will walk straight through our defence, I would have Farrell at 10 and Barret at 13 this gives us a little more bulk in a very light set of backs
Farrell got bumped by Nonu 3 times, making 3/3 during his NZ game. Farrell is physical in defence, but Burns was far more effective at actually getting Nonu on the ground, And why bother playing Eastmond if you’re going to be Farrell inside of him? Eastmond sparkles from flat passes right on the line from Ford, where he then either finds the gap, or does the same, meaning there’s still plenty of space left out wide due to the fixed defence.
Ford, Eastmond, Barritt (someone needs to run the defence). BB can move to 12 in defence. Or even more exciting would be Ford, Eastmond, 36. 36 can manage the defence and was defending the 13 channel a lot during the 6N whilst he was covering Burrell.
A bit more conservative, but perhaps drawing the best out of 36, would be Ford, 36, BB. 36 doesn’t need to be the main supplier of attack or defence there, and can just get on with his own game, without trying to force things (leading to his high error count). It would also be probably our best possible defensive pairing in the centres.
I agree with your point on Farrell. Think as he is so physical he has a tendancy to go high and try to wrap up the ball. On someone like Nonu this is usually a mistake.
From what I have seen of Bath (most of the games on BT Sport) Ford often has a back row or wing running the flat line and Eastmond takes it out the back (i.e. fairly deep). He then has time to spot the holes or make further distribution. They do mix it up though with eastmond flat, and another deep runner. It is mixing up the options that keeps teams guessing, allowing spaces to develop.
Having this number of options is what I feel england have missed, being predictable in what will be the first pass out. It does seem that Ford may be the key to this, but it is also partly a question of how the attack is coached.
Not convinced by 36 this season. Your suggestions may work, but I would not be comfortable with 36 in at this point until he has shown a touch more form. Also think his tackling is not particularly good, especially given his size.
Apart from Watson on the bench, this is exactly the same squad I put in a post last week!! I really think the combo of Eastmond and Barritt could be the one, but Ford at 10 is a must. Farrell has been slow getting back to his best after returning from injury, and Ford has to start at 10. His combination with Eastmond is key to getting the ball into the wider channels, and Barritt is key to keeping it tight when it’s not on. I’d like to see come into the line a bit more, and have Eastmond drop back into the 15 position. I think Eastmond running from full back with ball in two hands would keep the Kiwis guessing and be a real chance for Eastmond to show what he can do.
That was meant to say “I’d like to see Brown come into the line a bit more”
Swap Hartley for Webber and Wood for Haskell
Rate barritt but would rather see Joseph at 13. I now the 10,12,13 may be a little lightweight that way but would love to see what that club combo can do on a bigger stage.
We saw what they can do on the bigger stage in a recent European game, and defensively it wasn’t good. Taken apart by big French midfielders. Which is why Barritt needs to be in there! Whether it’s at 12 with Joseph at 13 and Eastmond on the bench, or at 13 with Eastmond at 12.
Reasonable pick. Brave call with Ford @ fly1/2 (still Cip for me, but it ain’t gonna happen I guess) & interesting to see Rokoduguni on the wing. Bigger is better maybe? I’d still like to see Varndell start, but in same cat as Cip I fear. Also I’d go for Mullan to start along with Attwood & Haskell @ 7 with Robshaw @ 6. All fantasy I know, but Mullan’s been around for a while now & seems to be plenty good in the Wasps fr row. As for the other 2, a real chance to see if they can cut it from the get go. The reservation I have in backline in this team of J’s is Barritt @ centre. Goodish on ‘D’, but is he going to create anything when England have the ball? From SL’s pt of view (& of course this isn’t his team), the ? is does he want to go for it & take a chance on some positions v NZ or, as Rountree has said, ‘make England hard to beat’ & go safety 1st? Personally, England should go out with a team to win at all costs & which can likely score tries, as the alt is to grind the ABs & to run at or attempt to run through them… which might work.
Reasonable call.
I have stopped thinking about the middfield, it seems the only players people like are the ones that have never played and people imagine what they would do. I was a huge advocate for 12t’s and that has not really worked out well. The only centre that has consistently done it for England on an offensive stage is Manu. His try scoring record is the best in the squad and he is nailed in. I agree we will need more if we are to win the world cup but lets not change the only cogg we have that works.
Ford is a brave pick, but I cannot see it at the moment, he is too weak defensively. Cipp would be a better bet for a playmaker 10. But we have said enough about that one.
With Launchbury out who would you have partnering Lawes. It should be Attwood, but does he provide more impact off the bench? Is Attwood an 80 minute player? Does Attwood cover other positions. Both Lawes and Launchbury can cover 6, as can Kruis if necessary. Another dilemma for Mr. Lancaster to ponder??!!