Stuart Lancaster has announced the 31 man England squad to play at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The biggest call, as expected, comes in the centres, where Sam Burgess and Henry Slade – both of whom made their debuts earlier this month – are included at the expense of more experienced options Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees.
There is no room for Danny Cipriani who, despite a hugely impressive cameo in Paris, has not done enough to convince Lancaster and his coaches that he should be included. Alex Goode and Mike Brown are the fullbacks, while George Ford and Owen Farrell are the two fly-halves.
There are other big decisions in the pack. Ben Morgan is included despite only recently returning from injury, and there is no place for Nick Easter as either a back-row or lock. George Kruis is one of the options in the second row, meaning Dave Attwood misses out. Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes are the other locks.
Alex Corbisiero’s injury issues mean he misses out, with Kieron Brookes named as the fifth prop alongside Dave Wilson, Dan Cole, Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola.
ENGLAND SQUAD FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015
Props:
Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 32 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 22 caps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
Hookers:
Jamie George (Saracens, 1 cap)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
Second rows:
George Kruis (Saracens, 8 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 23 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 39 caps)
Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
Back rows:
James Haskell (Wasps, 60 caps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 28 caps)
Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 38 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 37 caps)
Scrum halves:
Danny Care (Harlequins, 52 caps)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 22 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)
Fly halves:
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 30 caps)
George Ford (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Centres:
Brad Barritt (Saracens, 22 caps)
Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Back three:
Mike Brown (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Alex Goode (Saracens, 18 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
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I’ve won a tenner1
good team picked by SL
Congratulations all those who’ve made it into the squad.
Not really anything we weren’t expecting. I just hope big Sam can produce the goods when he needs to. I’m expecting Barritt to start the Ireland game with JJ, but would like to see Barritt and Slade together, as I think that could be our best combination.
Well I suppose much as expected however one thing does stick out for me and that is that the England back row will not live with that of Ireland,Australia,South Africa or the All Blacks.Just an observation.
Not so worried about Ireland – England have beaten them 3 of the last 4 matches with a back row very similar to this.
Aus we’ve beaten 2 of the last three times with this back row. Admittedly Pocock wasn’t playing and he definitely makes a difference – but we also beat Aus twice previously with Pocock playing and a back row of Croft, Moody and Easter, so he doesn’t make Aus invincible
South Africa – well its been a while since we’ve beaten them… But we are out-muscled by SA rather than beaten for speed or on the floor
NZ – at least this back row has one experience of having beaten them
On that note, someone should give Tom Wood his scrum cap back – he seemed to play a lot better when he was earing it…
Nor Wales
Forget the Burgess and Cipriani kerfuffle – the real – massive – mistake here is dropping both Easter and Attwood. This is a very lightweight pack especially considering BV’s slimmed-down new look
We’re going to need Burgess just to get over the gainline
It’s a shame that JJ took to the centre as well has he did. Slade and burgess could really mature into that and have JJ as another wing option.
Personally I’m glad Easter isn’t in it so I don’t have to hear that awful “one of the most intelligent rugby players there is” cliche again. Being slow to a ruck doesn’t mean you’re thinking about it intelligently – it just means you’re old and slow. If he’s one of the most intelligent rugby players around then we’re talking about the bottom of the gene pool in general.
I think centre is the only really contentious point and as a Welshman I’m glad he’s gone for “Slammin” Sam. The Welsh boys do better when players run straight at them. This isn’t bravado saying we’re going to walk that match now, just saying that I think this indicates a particular style of centre play that Wales will fare better with than the Aussie Giteau style.
Cipriani was never really going to make it imo. He’s too loose for SL, both on and off the pitch.
Squad, like Wales’, picked itself largely which is good news for England as it indicates the stability that good WC teams need.
Parling – good shout from SL. England will need him if TYs throwing keeps regressing.
I honestly don’t think we’ll see Burgess lining up to start the Wales or Aus games unless Barritt is injured. I believe Sl already has his midfield pair lined up and that’s Barritt and JJ.
Barritt will play crash ball and defend and tackle for his life, whilst Ford/Farrell will get JJ involved from set plays, and rely on his feet and pace in the loose.
Probably right Dazza, it worked last time. It’s not going to be the prettiest match when you consider what we’ll have lining up on the other side.
Excepting any injuries between now and then Brighty, what do you reckon Wales’ 15 will be for the England game?
Hmmm, tricky positions to gauge for Wales are front row and fullback/wings. The rest picks itself if fit. What do I want to see?
Samson Lee
Ken Owens
Gethin
Jake Ball
AWJ
Lyds/Warbs/Fale
Webb
Biggar
JR
Scott Williams
Liam Williams
North
Halfpenny
What do I think Gats might do differently? – swap Liam for Cuthbert, Charteris for Ball and Scott Baldwin for Owens. Also Tomos Francis this weekend is a big one to watch as he could cement himself in given Lee’s current injury status.
Would still expect to see Liam and Francis in the 22 and would imagine they’ll have a big part to play in that game.
I suspect Wales might have Charteris in to counter England’s maul and for his tackling. Be interesting to see Francis go, now he’s been stripped of fat, this weekend. Think he might sneak it from Lee due to fitness. Suspect this’s Cuthbert’s last chance to find some form and Amos will be given a chance in the second half to show what he can do with a (hopefully) better pack in front of him.
I have to say I think our best midfield partnership would be Barritt and Slade. I think Slade offers more than JJ. He’s still pretty quick, and although he may not have JJ’s dancing feet or pace, I think he does have a better appreciation of how to use the space and the ball. Mainly because he’s spent so much time playing at 10.
You’re right though, it probably won’t be much of a spectacle in terms of free flowing rugby. I think the Aus game will be toughest for both England and Wales.
My gut feeling for what I think SL will pick for the world cup team:
1. Marler
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launchbury
6. Woods
7. Robshaw (c)
8. B. Vunipola
9. B. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Nowell
12. Barritt
13. Joseph
14. Watson
15. Brown
16. Webber/ George
17. M. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Parling
20. Morgan/ Haskell
21. Care
22. Ford/ Slade
23. Burgess
First team has a cap total of 430. George and Slade may get the bench for Ireland, Webber and Ford for the proper matches.
Just a hunch mind.
Can’t say that would bother me much.
Benjit
I think you are spot on.I can’t say the selection fills me with confidence or excite me.A typical workmanlike SL side with no world class players.
Eh? No world class players? Perhaps none who are unquestionably best in their position but the following can all be described as world-class, especially when on top form
Marler, Cole, Lawes, Robshaw, Vunipola, B Youngs, Brown
and perhaps Launchbury as well
I think Kruis over Easter or Attwood is a gamble but fair play to him. There was never really any point in having both Barritt and Burrell but I think Burgess potentially adds something from the bench. Would love to see Barritt at 12, Slade at 13 and JJ and Watson on the wings and Burgess on the bench. Based on Saturday, Ford needs to start with Farrell brought on at 50. I think Farrell and Barritt are probably the right pairing for Fiji which needs to be a nice simple NH game of position, penalties and well worked tries from the backs. Flair not required. At hooker, Youngs looked weak in the set piece and whilst Webber is a bit one dimensional, I think reliability is key. Start Webber and bring on George in the second half.
My team for the Fiji game:
1.Marler
2. George
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. B. Vunipola
9. Wigglesworth
10. Farrell
11. Nowell
12. Barritt
13. Slade
14. Watson
15. Brown
16. Youngs
17. M.Vunipola
18. Brookes
19. Kruis
20. Morgan
21. Youngs
22. Ford
23. JJ
We know that Fiji are a good team with some stand out individuals, but they do not have the same structure to their game as a lot of other top teams do, so I would start with Wiggy and Farrell for this game and use their superior kicking game. Use Slade at 13 as the second playmaker.
Keep the ball in their half of the pitch as much as possible, get in their faces defensively and force mistakes and frustrate them. Kick the penalties and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Then in the last 20-30 depending on the score, you have a choice of who to bring on/take off depending on tactics.
I really like this lineup. Only change would be Burgess for JJ
I thought about that, but not sure Burgess would offer much off the bench in this type of game. burgess could come straight on at 12, but if Slade gets injured we would have Barritt and Burgess? At least with JJ, Slade or Farrell could move to 12 if Barritt has to come off. Jj can also cover wing from the bench, but not sure I’d want Slade or Burgess on the wing.
The only reason I said it was that Barrett could cover 13 if Slade goes down and Burgess could play with Slade more. The other option would be to put JJ in for Barrett and move him to the wing but brad needs the game time.
But Dazza, when do you play Burgess if not from the bench. I don’t see him starting. I see Brad doing a containment job with Burgess to act as a wrecking ball in the last 20, hence all the focus on being the fittest. I assume they plan not to be so far behind as they were against France!
Says a lot that James Haskell is our most capped player…
I think that is SL fault though Will. Even recently he has wasted caps on people that were never going to be selected instead of giving minutes to players that needed them.
Like whom? There’s an element of damned if he does, famed if he doesn’t about this.
How can he know if players are going to step up if they don’t get a chance?
The more I see the less I understand. Stripping the pack of hefty carriers then including one in the backs who will play a marginal role.
I think we can see the Lancaster “philosophy” clearly now. The Harlem Globetrotters up front combined with one genuinely elusive centre and two wrecking balls with Slade to bring some guile and craft but where and when?
Brown will be first choice FB and has a decent boot on him but other than him England will be seriously devoid of exit strategies, if needed, in the backline and if JJ gets injured or loses form then who brings the mobility and pace?
Kruis over Attwood? Not entirely convinced by that. Bomber can’t (or won’t) accept that in order to play bells and whistles rugby you first need to gain ascendancy up front and for that you need muscle and attitude,”dog” as Johnno used to call it. I see a pack seriously lacking in dog here.
Itoje and/or Ewers should be in there, particularly as Morgan has had so little game and rehab time.
Forgive my pessimism but we won’t win the World Cup. On the plus side that means we may finally get a team of coaches who are truly international standard and a team to match.
Sad to see that Attwood was not picked, he has always been a help for our set piece & is definitely one impact sub who offers something different from the mobile lock. Parling i’m hope i’m wrong but i don’t think he’s the line guru everyone thinks he is. Parling and T Youngs still have problem in line out which has appeared thorough the years, & I am hearing T Youngs was great in throwing in premiership, but i don’t think it was Parling calling the shots as he was out injured? i think. The one calling the shots was kitchener, when parling came back i think line out was a problem again with some turn overs. One example of this is the lions test, during the 1st test O’Connell is calling the line out, with T Youngs having a high success rate, 2nd test O’Connell is injuried, Parling takes over line outs goes to the dust bin, 3rd test i can’t remember. So i hope i’m wrong.
Glad Morgan is in, with him around i feel that our set piece is generally much better than what B Vunipola offers. The back rows to be expected but i wonder if Woods has gone past his prime. Cipirani i feel should’ve been in the squad.
Scrum halves i feel Wiggleworth is a situational player for example the friendly against France in paris Wiggleworth would’ve been very useful in controlling the first half but compare something like 6 nation against france i think i would’ve prefer B Youngs, but that is not to say care did a horrible job.
Pablito, the players I refer to as wasted caps are people like 12T and Cips. Good players but realistically they were never going to make the squad and therefore shouldn’t have played over guys who genuinely needed match sharpness and minutes under the belt.
Sometimes it takes time to grow into the being an international player and they only way to find out is to play them. Just because a player is not an international player at 22 does not mean he will not be at 28, for example. How long did it take Will Greenwood or Nonu to become “world class.” They had to grow into it because not everyone is any early bloomer. To immediately dismiss a player who struggled initially, but has the potential is downright shortsighted and dumb.
Picking players is not some easy thing to do. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. It takes lots of experimentation and some faith. For all we know, Twelvetrees and Cipriani could be crucial members of the 2019 world cup squad even though they are not going this year (though Cipriani may be called up if any injuries).
RWC is the only time the international coaches get real time to prepare the players and therefore the time where the experience and excellence (or otherwise) of the coaching set up has the biggest impact on performance of the team. This is the aspect I’m least confident about.
An agile and highly aerobically fit pack is fantastic, if a) you have the ball; b) have the skill level to play at a pace to take advantage of the superior fitness. Both games against France we’ve been out muscled upfront and neither game was played at a pace that the supposed superior fitness became evident. I’m not too confident that strategically they have got this preparation phase right. We aren’t used to finding a way to win when second best at the set piece and this could be the case against both Wales and Aus.
Also there was clearly nothing that Cips, Attwood, Easter, 36 (and probably Burrell) could possibly have done to play their way in to the final 31. The first 3 of these in particular could not have contributed more off the bench. If that decision had already been taken then give Morgan some time off the bench and, given we are down to a 1 capper if a centre gets a knock (Barritt is not indestructible due to his playing style) then some more game time of Burgess or Slade would seem to have made far more sense.
Huge game against Ireland now, I would pick the strongest XV, with Fiji to start and then straight into the defining fixtures against Aus and Wales we can’t afford to be undercooked.
5th September – Ireland
18th September – Fiji
26th September – Wales
3rd October – Australia
Thats tough. 4 big games in 4 weeks. There is no way that we will see the same starting XV for each game, even if we wanted to. Managing the attrition will be crucial.
Wales on the other hand have Italy at home this week, and then start RWC against Uruguay (who have just been hammered twice by Japan). I can imagine that we won’t see Wales’s A team in its entirety until the England game.
I didn’t see the Italy game at the weekend but I don’t imagine that a record beating from the Scots has put them in the best of moods, so Wales may have a hard afternoon (up front, anyway).