Harlequins number eight Nick Easter has been called into England’s Rugby World Cup squad to replace Billy Vunipola, who suffered an injury in their defeat to Wales on Saturday evening. Vunipola is having scans on his knee and could face up to six weeks on the sideline.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster confirmed that Vunipola could face a lengthy spell away from the game after damaging knee ligaments on Saturday:
“It’s unfortunate for Billy but the scan shows an injury which will likely require six weeks’ recovery,” said Lancaster.
“He has worked really hard and committed everything to the last three months but he is a young man with a bright future ahead of him and he will be an integral part of this team for years to come.
“Nick was unlucky to miss out on final selection. He is a specialist No.8 and an experienced player and we know he will make a big contribution.”
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Bugger.
I’ll be honest I’d have used it as an excuse to call up Dylan Hartley, Lancaster clearly doesn’t have the confidence to select Jamie George and having Webber on the bench is a complete waste of a sub spot
I would agree with you here if Morgan was fit; is he?
I still have nightmares about Tom Wood wearing the 8 shirt.
Almost as bad as not selecting your best hooker based on him missing one out of a possible 7 matches…
I was hoping for Ewers when I heard about the injury. Has been playing more six but would be a far superior option to Haskell at the back and does anyone think Easter has the legs for a full match if Morgan is out?
I suppose there is a difference between international and club level but in most Quins games Easter plays the full 80.
Definitely dependent on Morgan being fit, obviously you bring in a back rower if that isn’t the case, which it probably is now I think about it.
Tom Wood at no.8 :O I’d done my best to put that debacle behind me!!! Cheers for the reminder!!
I think most people would agree that Hartley not being selected was a short sighted and stupid. The risk of only having one hooker available due to injury without time to call up another was so minimal that it was hardly worth worrying about.
So Tom Wood to 8 then for the Aus match? Rule 101 for SL’s selections; try to accomodate exisiting players by playing them in postions their skill set clearly doesn’t fit (see Tom Wood at 8, Courtney Laws at 6, Brad Barritt at 13, Brad Barritt at 12, Manu Tuilagi at wing, Mike Brown at wing, Owen Farrell at 12)
Very bad news.
Yes, an understanding of the “game plan” far more important than an ability to play the position.
Easter will end up covering the second row, so Burgess can cover back row, so we can keep the “luxury” of Goode on the bench ….
Hey, I’m not too old yet then.
There’s a well kept secret, Brighty is actually English qualified!
Nearly choked when I saw this post!
My bugger was less to do with Easter being bought in than with BV being out.
Can’t imagine even SL would pick Wood at 8 after the last disaster, Instead, assuming Morgan is not fit, the back row vs Aus could end up as
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. Haskell
Got to assume Easter will start if Morgan isn’t fit surely?
If it weas anyone else than SL choosing the back row then yes of course.
However, given they will be facing Pocock and Hooper, I can definitely see that selection being picked
I’m struggling to think of an example where Lancaster has called up a player and selected them in the same week.
We usually here they haven’t had enough time in the group, don’t know the defensive systems, etc
As well as the Wood example I can think of the case where we lost Yarde and Wade in 2013, no wingers were called up so Foden goes to the wing.
I hope you are right though, any other selection would be bonkers.
Possibly the biggest benefit of Easter will be sharing his experience of tight situations in previous world cups.He will say his piece to Lancaster if it needs saying which Robshaw will
never do.If all the players do is follow the coaches orders I am fearful.We need some player anger and straight talking in the way Jonno told Clive on occasions to piss off
Could be disruptive and undermine Lancaster; could be disruptive and shake things up, rallying everyone around him.
I understand he was a key member of the leadership group in 2007, who got the boys’ heads on for the Australia match after the 36-0 drubbing v SA. I also understand that that situation was very much a players mutiny against the coaches, where they just sat Brian Ashton down and told him how they were going to play.
At 37, Minty’s got no worries about his future England prospects, so as you say, he’ll have no worries in speaking up if he feels the need or desire too.
Not being funny, I think bringing him in at this stage could be a masterstroke by Lancaster, albeit potentially a Pyrrhic one!
How exceptional do the circumstances have to be to call up Steffon Armitage?
I should have added a whole lot of exclamation marks after that comment!
This is now getting messy. Some of Lancaster’s picks for the bench are pointless in some games. What is Goode doing in the team? I would have loved to see Cipriani come on with Ford against a depleted welsh squad with players out of position. Slade at 13 instead of Barritt for the last 20. And I know its a pointless laboured point but Cipriani offers SO much more than Goode. Also, Dylan Hartley has served his ban now hasn’t he. Also, is SL going to stick with the same 10, 12 and 13 against Oz? If he does then I’m sure we might be there or therabouts with 20 to go but we will lose the match in the final quarter because we offer nothing off the bench. Could we not have someone, anyone coming off the bench to have serious impact, anyone.
The wheels are coming off because we have a small man in a big job. I’m sure Lancaster loves his Mum and pays his taxes but an International class coach he will never be. Vern Cotter changed his props at half time against the USA. Can you imagine SL ever doing something that “radical”? No.
“Stick to the plan boys,stick to the plan,it worked in training so it’s bound to work here”
I wish to god that just one of the players would tell him to stick his plan and just go out and express themselves.
Teecee your last para is absolutely right.They are overcoached and overprepared and I reckon fed up with being micromanaged by a school master.Do the players enjoy the way they are led and managed.I doubt it.Can he really get in their heads to give absolutely everything next sat?Doubt it.
The problem for England or rather Lancaster is that he thought the ‘big boys’ would grind out a win v Wales and now he is faced with calls for new personnel and a new playing style….or losing his job.
If England try to play rugby against the Aussie backline and their backrow of Hooper and Pocock they will lose. Wood and Robshaw are not quick enough to compete with the Aussie back row.
Nice to see even the English/National newspapers questioning Robshaw’s actual intelligence..even if he was the school chess champion.
They need to trust their forwards and munch the Aussie pack at source as per 2007. It won’t win over the romantics but it might just save England’s RWC.
That said, if the bulldozers lost to Wales then they will lose to the Aussies who won’t come with a depleted backline that became ever more ‘patched up’ as the game went on.
I actually wonder if England have been fazed by the whole ‘It is our RWC’ mentality. They weren’t great v Fiji and have now blown it v Wales. I actually know someone who bet on England to go out at the pool stage.
England’s forwards have nowhere near the dominance over their Australian counterparts now that they enjoyed in 2007. That was such an enjoyable game to watch – every other scrum, Sheridan would chew up and spit out another Strayan prop. They were like lambs to the slaughter. What could be romantic than that!
But, I do agree England are likely to have more chance of munching the Oz pack than they do of beating them at the breakdown or out wide.
I think we have to look less at what players are coming in, and more at why we gave away so many stupid penalties in the first place to allow the Welsh back into the game. No one can prepare for injuries, I’m glad Easter is in, honest bloke, will crash through brick walls “off loading all day, as he has been out of the fold will he still have that sharpness to last 80 mins, hopefully Morgan is fit, will play about 50-60 mins then Easter on?
The Aussies must be laughing, 2 easy “warm up” games so both us and the Welsh battered and injured, just hope Fiji get something against wales….would be a nice turn up for the “whites”….blimey….well depressed , I keep having “Bigger” nightmares
All to play for yet. Bit of a set back and all that, but we aren’t out yet. The Aussies are good, but we can beat them, so am going to try to remain positive at least until the weekend!
Easter was the logical replacement, so SL can’t be faulted for that. Here’s hoping the knocks clear up and we can pick from a full squad.
We should play Easter at 13. Has better hands than Barritt and is probably a yard quicker too.
Armitage was the obvious call but of course that is not going to happen. Ewers was my pick, but SL does not pick on form. If JJ is not fit then Slade outside Burgess, with Ford at outside half. That will not happen of course. Any thoughts of calling 12T’s into the squad? Only joking!
Some very strange comments here regarding who should have been called up. Of course it was going to be Easter, he was in the squad all summer (albeit not in the US) and is a direct replacement for BV. Armitage was not the obvious replacement as he isn’t eligible, thats it. Ewers has no international experience, and they are going into the biggest game of their careers so that would be mad.
As for Lancaster, i do get very frustrated with his selections sometimes but they have only just lost the match to Wales who are a very good side with more experience and deserved to win on the night. Let’s see how the Aus game goes before getting the knives out. Imagine they win that, get out of the group and win the QF, SF.. who knows? He won’t be such a bad coach then (I’m being highly optimistic i know).
Mmmm……….. calling up an international tyro and chucking him in at the deep end. SL is far too canny to do such a……………oh, hang on.
What has Tom Waldrom done, kicked Lancasters pussy?
Not good enough at this level
Completely agree with Matt B and Staggy on this. Anyone who expected anyone other than Easter has been on another planet for the last four months. We lost the Wales game, let’s get over it, move on and get behind the team for the Aus game. Whoever they select to play!
I didn’t expect but wanted Steffon Armitage… Easter is fine, but losing Vunipola is a massive blow.
Not a given Wales will beat Fiji with the short turnaround. Shame Nadolo is out, but will be hoping Fiji can peg Wales back – and therefore keep their cup chances alive. They’re pack has looked handy and they still have Goneva and other threats in their backline.
Unless Fiji beat Wales, England’s game against Australia is must-win. Even if Fiji beat Australia, we could ill-afford a loss. Lancaster knows this and will have to prepare his team accordingly.
I think Lancaster should possibly go 6 and 2 on the bench. If he starts Slade at 13 and puts Nowell in the 23 shirt, he can have a lock, Haskell and Easter on the bench (assuming Morgan starts) and therefore give himself more flexibility in the forwards, which will surely be where the game is won or lost.
Thought Webber has been poor coming on both games and Wigglesworth, although good against Fiji, let us down against Wales with that late drop. Would consider George certainly and possibly Care for the bench.
A 23 of:
Marler, Youngs, Cole, Parling, Launchbury, Wood, Robshaw (C), Morgan, Youngs, Farrell, May, Burgess, Slade, Watson, Brown.
George, Mako, Brookes, Lawes, Haskell, Easter, Care, Nowell.
Would mean the 8 missing out are Webber, Wilson, Kruis, Wigglesworth, Ford, Barritt, Joseph and Goode. Assuming Joseph isn’t fit, it’s only really Ford who might feel hard done by, and he’s sacrificed due to the game plan.
All 8 would then probably come into the squad for the Uruguay game so we can rotate. Unless we need a mad points difference scenario, then we go full strength.
I like the look of your team, but I’m not sure Lawes will be fit for this game. There was a suggestion of him being our for a week or so? If so I would have Kruis on the bench. The call to have no fly half on the bench is a big one, and you would be pinning a lot of hope on Slade stepping up to play 10 if anything happened to Faz.
I would start with Slade even if JJ is fit. The line up of Faz, Burgess and Slade is the most exciting prospect I’ve seen for a while. They seemed to have much better communication than other combinations he’s tried.
Faz needs to start this game purely because of his better defence and better place kicking. Both Foley and Cooper have missed a few kicks so far, and we don’t want to be leaving any points on the field this week!
Well the team hasn’t leaked, so assume Stu has no effing idea who to play. Either that or his windows upgrade means his laptop out of use and no access to his spread sheets.
I think he said the team would be announced on Thurs due to the injuries
So it’ll be leaked today or tomorrow then
(Really wish they’d find whoever continaully leaks the team and string him up from his sensitive bits – even if it is actually SL)
Benjit you are on FIRE!!!!!!!!!! Superb!
Armitage? Sheesh
1. He’s not eligible
2. He’s never trained with this England squad
3. He’s probably not match fit
4. He has played international rugby just 5 times and not since 2009
5. I believe he is still under investigation for a drunken assault(?)
6. He’s not eligible
And people would really want to bring him in for a crunch match against Australia in the World Cup?
Easter is the right choice. I like Ewers and think he has a fantastic international future ahead of him but his lack of experience goes against him for this game
Hopefully Easter will steady the ship. There’s talk of Morgan possibly being fit, so even if Easter isn’t fit, I hope he is on the bench with Haskell , seeing as he can cover lock and back row
I agree with Rob on everything else. England need to win this game in the tight and not play to Aussie strengths by flinging the ball around. We do have a destructive back three but unless we significantly up our breakdown work, they’ll be prey to Hooper and Pocock. Keep it tight, nullify Pocock by keeping him at the bottom of rucks. Kick intelligently and target the iffy Aussie lineout. Make sure their fly-half is continually under pressure. Don’t assume the scrum will go with us. DO NOT aimlessly kick the ball to Folau
My only exception to Rob’s team, might be to play Barritt rather than Burgess. Barritt is not a 13, that is clear, but at 12 he won’t be exposed for speed and his defensive positioning will be better than Burgess. With Slade at 13, we would have the playmaker we lacked on Saturday so Barritt’s lack of ability in that area would be less crucial.
But perhaps I’m being slightly cautious there. Burgess is only going to improve with experience and he now has 70 minutes of international experience against a very good Welsh team in the RWC cauldron. He’s only going to be better for that.
Sod it, changed my mind. I’m not sure that Giteau has got the pace any longer to expose him anyway. Play Burgess with Slade and get him running at the space between 10 and 12 (especially if Cooper is at 10) – that should open some gaps elsewhere, especially if the Aussies task Pocock to tackle him all game
If I see Barritt anywhere near this team, I may start supporting the Aussies.
His importance to the defence is very overrated and in no way compensates for paucity of attack. Slade would be lined up and hammered, just as 12t was last Autumn.
Let’s pick players for what they can do and not worry about their limitations.
Is SL going to abandon his naturally cautious approach to games, against one of the most gifted attacking sides in world rugby?
My prediction – he’s going to name Barritt at 12 and JJ at 13 (Slade if JJ is injured).
I think you are probably right Anarky. I’m not sure if JJ is injured or not, some rumours seem to suggest he’ll be ok
I think that SL is probably crossing everything he has that JJ is fit, because even though I think he will name Slade (if JJ is injured) I don’t think he’ll really want to..
A lot of negative comments about Easter being called up but people need to remember that he almost made the squad first time round after strong showings in the 6N and warm up games.
Obviously gutted to lose Billy but I thought Easter should have been selected over Morgan in the first place.
I thought he should have been in as lock/number 8 for Kruis but as you say, he should have been in the squad