Stuart Lancaster has named the England team that will play Fiji in the opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Friday at Twickenham.
He has stuck with the same starting XV that beat Ireland in their final warm-up game a little over a week ago, with the only change coming on the bench where Rob Webber comes in for Jamie George.
England Head Coach Lancaster said: “The squad is massively excited to start the World Cup. Everyone has worked incredibly hard over the last three months and we are ready.
“All the players have put their hand up in training and the internationals we have played this summer and we are blessed to have such a strong squad to select from against a skilful and powerful Fijian side.
“Friday will be a great occasion for the whole squad and for the country. We are in a unique position to be playing in a World Cup on home soil and to have the support of a nation behind the team. That support will be a massive factor and we don’t underestimate its importance.
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY FIJI
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 39 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
12. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 23 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 49 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 33 caps)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
4. Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 40 caps)
6. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 38 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 39 caps)
8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 29 caps)
Replacements
16. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 23 caps)
18. Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 24 caps)
20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 19 caps)
21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 23 caps)
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 31 caps)
23. Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Wonder what George did wrong? Looked good against Ireland. Would like a bit more pace off the bench but time to get behind the team!
Perhaps he too punched a copper up the throat?
Eh? Is this meant to be funny?
Burgess on the bench! Quite surprised. Would have gone for slade and nowell instead of Farrell and burgess. Also prefer launch bury instead of lawes but these are very slight preferences
Bit harsh on George. Can’t help but feel that T Youngs is better as a bench option rather than a starter. This will be a tough test but expect us to get through it.
Pretty much as expected. Was not aware of the lack of any real experience in this current England team. Could be the achillies heel if Fiji are still in the hunt with 10 to go. Going to be a very tough opener. Looking forward to a tight encounter.
Given that in recent years England have been fielding teams barely in the 300s, I’ll take 430 odd caps!
So little interest here? Fairly predictable pick. Likely too strong @ set piece for Fiji & so they won’t get enough pill. Also wouldn’t be too surprised to see a yellow or 2 for them as the ref will likely ‘ping’ for, rather than against, the home team. Hope not though, as this will make it a bit of an academic exercise… & the tourney needs a kick start, not a damp squib.
Don, just remember we don’t wear black, so we don’t get any preferential treatment from the ref and our players aren’t invisible at the breakdown!
Starting team, no major surprises, much what we expected really. The surprises really come on the bench: an out-of-form Webber instead of George? Wigglesworth as an impact sub rather than Care? Burgess on the bench over Nowell? Surely to have Farrell in the centres would be better than to have Joseph on the wing?
Referee more likely to ping England than Fiji – same as when he refereed the away warm up fixture against France. Forward bench looks fine & too difficult to call between George and Webber, backs less so, without Slade the options look very limited & he would get the nod against Farrell for me. Either Farrell should start as 10 or not be in the match day 23
I hope they don’t ping any red’s England’s way I don’t want any excuses come Wales v England.
Have you been reading Gatlands book of pointless jibes (only £3.99 at your local bookstore)
Leon,
You tell me your truth and I’ll tell you mine as the founder and architect of the NHS once said.
Have you considered how others might react to the ‘House of Lancaster’ August 2015 which proudly and expectedly proclaims……..
‘The England rugby union team came home from the World Cup in New Zealand to the sound of silence. Their rugby was uninspiring and their reputation in tatters. Stuart Lancaster was tasked with turning a failing team around.
The transformation was astounding. Now Lancaster’s side has the work ethic, humility and resolve. Much of this is down to their coach, but with so little international experience, how did he bring about this renewal?
Part biography, part examination of leadership, The House of Lancaster pulls apart the England rugby machine and looks at how it has been put together. Filled with exclusive interviews from the leading protagonists, players and coaches, as well as containing unprecedented access to Lancaster’s methods, The House of Lancaster shows how the vision, personality and leaderships skills of one driven man can turn a team into genuine world-beaters.’
For London RWC 2015 substitute Berlin 1936.
Lancaster is a Nazi? Jeez. I guess the haircut should have given us a clues.
Inappropriate cultural reference aside, I think most England fans and possibly Lancaster himself cringes with the sycophancy cited above. I don’t believe this is an official RFU product.
Thats quite brilliant Enoch. Cut and paste from an Amazon book description, and linking it seamlessly to a connection between the Nazi Olympics and the present RWC.
Magnificent work.
Whatever. If we’re not pinged it’s because we’re the home side, but if we are pinged it’s because we’re professional cheats, killing the ball, ruining the game etc. etc. Heard it all before.
“I don’t want any excuses come Wales v England” LOL you’ll barely be able to move for the cries of “Halfpenny!” when you go out in the group stages again. Or maybe that’s just typical English “arrogance” :-D
Lancaster is a Nazi? Jeez, although perhaps the haircut should have been a clue.
Inappropriate cultural reference aside, I think most England fans and possibly Lancaster himself cringes with the sycophancy cited above. I don’t believe this is an official RFU product.
Sorry. Before Enoch gets on his high horse, I did not post twice out of some imperial, English arrogant belief that I deserve 2 posts to every 1 for those not of English heritage.
I can’t understand Webber instead of George, unless George has a slight knock? George looked great off the bench for the Ireland game, and would have at least had him on the bench! Wiggy, Faz and Burgess will either come on in the last twenty to kick deep and run the legs off the Fijians, or if we’re far enough in front I would leave Wiggy and Faz, and just bring Burgess on to run at them.
Agreed, it’s the only team selection that doesn’t makes sense to me (from the 31 available)
Apparently it is because Webber is a superior scrummager and I guess they still have a few worries about that following the Ireland game so want to give him a go
I can’t see the Fiji scrum giving us too many problems with George or Webber on the filed?! I would’ve thought George would offer more than Webber on current form.
Don’t worry guys , England will lose. Go fiji go
Your first name gives you away methinks………………………………
Given the much trumpeted fitness coaching the players have had I would have thought someone with genuine pace for the final 15 off the bench to try and run Fiji ragged,especially if things are a bit tight.
I echo the selection of Webber being a bit left field. George is hardly a lightweight in the scrum and his darts have been spot on. Another example of Bombers Achilles heel, his inherent conservatism perhaps?
To borrow from Sir Alex , “squeaky bottom” time is fast approaching. This first game is going to be absolutely crucial to the rest of England’s tournament.
C’mon boys!!!!!!!!
Or could be that he hasn’t quite made his mind up yet and is giving Webber a chance to show what he can bring in a game where the composition of the front row replacements is perhaps less important than it will be against Wales or Aus
Will be at the game on Friday. Already v excited (and slightly nervous having been watching videos of Nadolo and his team mates!)
I’ll be there too if i can avoid bursting with excitement in the next 3 days.
Watson vs Nadolo is a bit worrying at 34kg weight difference i’m hoping it doesn’t turn into a painful reminder of Jonah Lomu’s steamrolling hatrick
It’s amazing how many non English people see fit to comment on our team, just go away and worry about your own team’s problems
Fiji are a cracking team & I’m very envious of Leon….TV for me :(
Big differences in size are less of an issue now as the players are so much fitter and stronger. Just look at how well Farrell and Ford tackle for their size. Have faith & enjoy the spectacle (I hope !)
Pretty much expected this selection. I’d go Launhcbury before Lawes personally but can’t complain.
Nowell would give more balance to the bench; but I can’t help but think SL is desperately looking for an excuse to throw Burgess into the XV, so he wants him to have more game time.
Webber gets a chance here to prove he can add impact, makes sense to me.
Never understand the desperation for pace off the bench. 9 times out of 10 territory and control are needed from halfbacks off the bench. The forwards add dynamism in the last 20 which explains Brookes over Wilson and the use of the Vunipolas. Add Launchbury to that and our pack should run them ragged in the last 20.
Jacob, I suspect the direct power provided by the bench forwards, is the same reason for Burgess as well.