Stuart Lancaster has named a strong side to take on France in the return warm-up fixture in Paris this weekend.
Chris Robshaw returns as captain alongside James Haskell and Billy Vunipola in the back-row, while Courtney Lawes and Joe Lunchbury re-form one of England’s most successful engine room duos of recent times.
Joe Marler, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole form what will be England’s first choice front row at the tournament proper. Youngs of the Ben variety rekindles his partnership with George Ford at half-back, while Luther Burrell and Jonothan Joseph are in the centres.
Mike Brown and Jack Nowell join Jonny May – the only survivor from last weekend’s victory at Twickenham – in the back three.
Danny Cipriani and Billy Twelvetrees, both in the last chance saloon, will again only have the chance to prove their credentials from the bench.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “Having reviewed last Saturday there were a lot of things we were pleased with considering it was the first game. There is now an opportunity for those not involved or who didn’t get much opportunity from the bench to put a marker down and build on that performance.
“France were very good last weekend and will be even stronger at home and this will be a big test but these guys have been working hard for the opportunity and are desperate to go out and perform. I’m delighted for Jamie George who hopefully gets his first cap and also Joe Launchbury, who has worked tirelessly and patiently to get back to fitness.
“It is a big couple of weeks ahead for all the 39-man squad with the game this weekend and some competitive training sessions to come this week and next as we look to narrow down the squad ahead of the World Cup.”
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE
15 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 37 caps)
14 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
12 Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 14 caps)
10 George Ford (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 47 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 31 caps)
2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 22 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 38 caps)
6 James Haskell (Wasps, 59 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins, 37 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps)
Replacements
16 Jamie George (Saracens, uncapped)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 21 caps)
18 David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)
19 Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
20 Nick Easter (Harlequins, 51 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 51 caps)
22 Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
23 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 21 caps)
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No Slade or Burgess in the squad, 12T on the bench again – has Lancaster decided on his centres already? This looks pretty close to his first-choice XV.
Interesting that neither Slade nor Burgess are on the bench…
I’d have much rather seen either given another run out (especially Burgess in the last 30 mins) rather than yet another pointless 12Trees cameo
I’d imagine that this is the first choice team with the exception of one wing, outside centre and blindside flanker
Meant to say inside centre – think joseph is pretty much nailed on!
Hopefully you mean with the exception of INSIDE centre? Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Haskell is edging Wood for No6
Our back row is a worry whoever we pick I think that will cost us in the end. I thought Slade was superb last week I hope he makes the squad. Astraight choice between Burrell Burgess and 36 for me whoever is picked I hope they don’t play a lot
This is where Lancaster’s indecision really costs England. He knows in his mind that barring injury Goode is going as back up fullback and auxiliary fly half. No matter how well Danny plays his best hope will be as one of the 5 standby players as injury cover.
And what will he learn from another 12t cameo that he hasn’t learnt from the past 2 years? Ditto Easter. Surely Morgan needs as much game time as possible.
Morgan, Slade (who is a genuine option at 10 unlike Goode) and Burgess should have been on the bench. Another wasted opportunity by Mr Nice but Dim.
Absolutely agree with you Benjit. Also,surely George should be getting a game? We know what Youngs senior can do and we also now know that Cowan Dickie wasn’t at his best (although that too can be blamed partly on Bomber’s conservatism in the 6N.)
If we lost to France but unearthed a diamond wouldn’t that make it a worthwhile exercise? Playing so many presumed first choice players also carries the risk of a big name getting injured which could seriously derail things. As you said,Nice but dim.
Although we do know what Tom Youngs can do, it isn’t just about selection, it’s also about giving players game time together ahead of the world cup. In fact as most of this team is first choice it can be said about a lot of them.
I suspect Sam is already in the 31 and will compete with the other possible 12’s.Probably on the bench for Fiji game.SL made this his goal when Sam was still on Oz.
Still trying 12t’s beyond belief.
We will do very well to beat France and then Ireland.2 wins or 2 losses will hugely affect the mindset for the Fiji match.
Barritt is not there, hopefully not against ireland. Easter why is he there, give more game time for Morgan. Cipirani there at full back means Brown will be shifted to the wing again.
I think Barritt is injured. Have to assume he will play part of the Ireland game if fit.
I understand the need to give all potential squad members some game time prior to work WC, but to not even have Slade on the bench is bonkers.
I’d wager that the two first XVs we’ve now seen (+1) is actually the final squad, and the games are to see if the players there cut the mustard or if some may need some changing, e.g. George for Cowan-Dickie.
Disappointed that Morgan isn’t on the bench. Was Easter injured last week? Because it makes no sense to me that he wasn’t on the bench instead of Haskell (to replace Morgan at half time) and then have Morgan on the bench this week instead.
The way it’s worked out is Morgan has got one half of rugby under his belt before the final squad needs to be picked and Haskell will have 1.5 games (presuming he isn’t subbed for Easter and Billy V goes to 6??). I wouldn’t say Haskell particularly needs more game time than anyone else, and certainly not a player coming back from a major injury. But then maybe Morgan just isn’t ready for two halves in a week, which puts serious doubts on whether he can be picked for the final squad.
I also have a suspicion that 12Trees will come on at 12 with Burrell moved to 13 and Joseph possibly going to wing instead of Nowell/May. Or, Brown goes to wing, Cipriani at FB and take May off. Or maybe all of these. Maybe Mako will come on at centre, just to give everybody a ‘go’.
Mako at centre would still possibly be better than 12T. At least he would tackle people!
Must admit I find a lot of the confusion about the selection strange. These games are not just to help SL decide which fringe player to pick – but mainly to get his first choice match fit and game ready. Bar one or two; his selection here looks pretty much first choice.
Easter needs game time, he’s been injured too. He is still in the mix; so if he was to get picked without playing in any of these games he’d be very rusty. Easter could easily go if Morgan’s leg doesn’t react well.
12T and Cips barely got a touch on Saturday (through no fault of their own), so it makes complete sense to me that he gives them another go.
The “nice but dim” comments regarding SL astound me. Seems like an extremely logical and pragmatic man to me.
I completely agree Jacob. The coaching team will already be very close to knowing their final squad already and I think it would be shocking if at this stage they were still throwing everybody in to have a look! There can only be very few places undecided. Now it’s all about getting game time for those people and having them play together in a match environment. I agree with your assessment of logical and pragmatic. The worst coaches are the ones that flap around and make emotional decisions.
Hello Jacob,
I see I have stirred our regular Lancaster apologist! I’m sorry but this is typical Lancaster the PE teacher “everyone must have a turn”. Answer me this:
1) What is SL going to learn about 12t in a half of Rugby at most that he doesn’t already know from the last 3 years? Surely he needs to validate the performances of Slade and Burgess who each only have a solitary cap?
2) What is SL going to learn from giving Easter at most a half of Rugby. He is a 50 cap veteran, has been to 2 world cups and slotted seamlessly into the team during the 6n. IF he had started, to test whether he could do the full 80 then it would make more sense, but Morgan massively needs game time, even if it is the last 15 mins.
3) Barring injury, Goode is going, not Cipriani. SL knows that so does any England fan, given Goode continual if baffling presence throughout SL’s tenure. No matter how well Danny plays in his 20 mins on Saturday, he is not going to get in. If SL had faith in Cips covering full back (which is what he needs to prove), he would have brought him on against Italy in the 6n, when Brown got injured. He is not taking 3 fly halves.
First team, I have no issues with. But once again* SL is wasting precious caps as rewards rather than making the tough and ruthless decisions needed as an international coach.
*see selections of Dowson, Stevens, Botha, Ashton, Myler, Pennel, Croft etc.
Wouldn’t say I was a Lancaster apologist – I just tend to agree with far more of his decisions than you seem to!
1) 12T has always been a strange one for me. He has shown flashes of brilliant form, as well as being an the middle of some really strong England performances (thinking 6 nations 2014), so whilst I’m not exactly a fan, I do think the amount he is vilified is over the top. As I mentioned, he came on on Saturday, didn’t get a touch so SL obviously decided that he didn’t get out of that what he wanted to.
2) Again think I mentioned this in my post. it has nothing to do with learning anything about Easter. He, like Morgan needs game time. Is Morgans leg isn’t quite right them Easter will be our second choice 8. He’s been injured (didn’t go to Denver camp), so he needs some time too.
3) I see your point here. I struggle to see SL picked Cips over Goode. However, based on the fact that he played him there against the Baa Baas, during a 6 nations (once or twice I’m not sure) and last weekend – SL is obviously having a genuine look at him there. On face value, I’d have to assume that he has not quite made up his mind on that call yet.
Again, and I’ve said this before, it is so easy to look back at capped players and laugh! Dowson was the form Premiership back row for years without being picked, and when he was, it didn’t seem that daft. Stevens I’m not sure why he was wasted caps? Very good player. Botha was in good form at the time, and there was not the likes of Launchbury or Kruis around at the time to pick. Ashton, well, only last month fans were calling for him to be back in and around so hardly insane for him to be picked. What’s wrong with Pennel? Really good player from what I can see. Myler I really don’t like – but again, lots think his form for Saints warrants selection. Croft!! Wasted caps!?!? If he was fit now I’d have him straight back in the 6 shirt for England.
The wasted caps thing comes down to the limited number of caps SL had between taking over and the home world cup.
Dowson was well past his best when picked and was picked out of loyalty. It seemed for a while that if you played for Stu in the Saxons and/ or at Leeds you got preference – Palmer, Dowson, Clark, Burrell! Botha, Waldron and the likes I mentioned above are journeyman*. Giving debuts to unproven 30 year olds was a mistake. None of the top three sides do that and would rather take a risk on up and coming talent, even if they weren’t yet regulars for their club (as Wales did with North). Our top u20s (4 years wrth of good crops) should have been brought into the set up sooner, saxons or seniors.
* I exclude Pennell from this. His was a tough call, but hey that is international rugby. Pennell was rewarded for a stellar season, but had committed himself to the relegated Warriors which ruled him out of wc selection. Ano 3 caps where we could have tried Cips, Nowell or Watson. Would rather risk and find out their competence in a test series than at a world cup.
Dowson and Botha haven’t played under SL since 2012 (maybe Dowson could have been 2013 now I’m thinking about it), but still. Back in 2012, there were not other options.
Clarke and Burrell don’t really need to be justified; both have been picked based on their form at club level, both deserve their spots. Waldrom, whilst I really am not a fan of his, has shown that he can do a job, even now. Why would we not play him when Vunipola was not about and Morgan was still at the Scarlets?
Ford, JJ, Watson and Nowell is particular only have really come through at club level even over the past 12 months. Caps for Palmer and Botha came when Launchbury and Kruis were not options. Dowson played when Croft was injured and Haskell was on his world tour.
Pennell I like – and if Brown and Goode were to suddenly get injured tomorrow, I would think he’d be in and around selection. Again which I think is justified.
Is it easy to look back now and rubbish selections from years ago, but the reality is that most of them made sense at that point in time; with a lot of the players we like the look of now not even being around at that point in time.
George North is an anomaly, not a rule to go by.
Ok I get that you disagree but you missed my point entirely. You agree that the above were stop gaps, my point being that taking a chance on the u20 alumni earlier even if not established at their clubs would have born better results. Look at SAF in 2007, majority of the team were the u20s that Jake White had coached and brought through when he got the senior job. They suffered in 2006, White almost getting the sack, but the gamble paid off a year later. Let’s see how SL safer approach works.
Oh come on. SA had Matfield on over 50 caps at that stage. Smit, du randt, juan Smith probably had something close to 50 too. They didn’t have a bunch of youngsters at all. Even the Habana’s and Du Preez of the world had 30 odd caps. Those two were 24 and 25 at that world cup (had to check google for that knowledge)! Montgomery was also a key part of that side and very experienced. Bakkies Botha must have been in his late 20’s too?
That is a very different situations to Ford/Watson/Nowell now who are all still just 21/22 now.
There are always exceptions; within SL’s reign as well. Launchbury was brought in without having played much for Wasps and has been brilliant. Henry Thomas was rushed through and has now stalled.
Pollard has been rushed in now by SA, and whilst clearly talented has has massive mixed results.
And where did I say you should have NO experience! Try taking the blinkers off. Despite misgided popular opinion, SL inherited a pretty established spine, with Corbs, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, B Youngs, Ashton, Foden and in his second year the likes of Farrell, Barritt, Robshaw, Wood, Goode and Brown were all pretty well established. At this point and with a world cup looming, I thought Stu should have looked ahead and been more strategic in his thinking.
Instead, he got swept up in the NZ win and eschewed development in the 2013 to grind out a championship. Which might have been fine had we won it. Instead we shipped our worst ever loss to Wales and mentally the team went backwards. When Morgan got injured did he turn to Billy V? No. When our backline was floundering, did he drop Barritt for 12t (who at the time had made a great debut against Scotland). No. He kept Brown on the wing, instead of blooding another winger. He then Wasted an entire autumn on Joel Tomkins, prolongued Ashton’s tenure when in dire form. This all has knock on effects. Had 12t been brought in earlier, he might have been found out sooner and then jettisoned so that other options could be found.
None of this is hindsight. many of us were saying this at the time.
I cant’ seem to reply to Benjit below, but this is to Benjit, didn’t Billy V make his debut in Argentina in 2013, wasnt the six nations but wasnt long after?
Not sure what blinkers you seem to think I have on – I’m struggling to see what 21/22 were thrown into the SA side that’s all? I didn’t suggest that you’d said you had to have no experience – I’m just unsure what players you’re referring to in that SA side? Memory might serve me wrong but I’m trying to think back to it and can’t think of many?
Billy V wouldn’t have lasted 30 minutes in a test match during the 2013 6 nations; as Liono pointed out; SL spoke to him then, told him to get fit and was in by that summer.
Barritt I’ve always asked to be dropped; so you won’t find me arguing there – SL has largely got his midfield wrong on the basis of Tuilagi which has been a big mistake. *Shock horror I don’t just say SL is always right*
Tomkins is another horror selection; but there really weren’t many options floating about at the time to be fair. I hate to admit I actually was ok with it at the time.
Wood at 8 I didn’t like either; at the time I’d have brought back Easter. But even the likes of Dallaglio at the time liked the idea; so whilst wrong hindsight it wasn’t as insane as it seems now.
Every reply so far you seem to think I’m completely missing your point; which I believe now is that the U20 crop should have been playing back in, what, 2013? So we are talking about who? Nowell, Watson, Ford… Slade even? Who else is there that should have been in earlier? Hardly seems like a long list that have been aggrieved.
I love the concept of U20 players coming straight into the senior squad; that’s what pathways are for – but they also need to be ready.
I have no idea which post I am responding to, but swift promotions to senior squad from Jake White’s junior boks include:
Gary Botha, Jean De Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Fourie Du Preez from White’s 2002 vintage all made senior debuts following year.
Habana and Ruan Pienn african from 2004 vintage
Bismark du Plessis in 2005
JP Peterson from 2006 plus Frans Steyn straight from the u19s of that year.
Some were pre White taking over the senior role some from post leaving the junior one but enough to show that earmarking and promoting age grade talent can be done swiftly.
Billy V played for England a year after playing in the U20 tournament. Launchbury played in the Autumn after playing the U20 tournament that summer. Watson and Nowell played in the in the 2013 version and were both wearing England shirts in 2014. Cowan-Dickie and Slade played in that tournament too and are capped two years later.
Is that a great deal worse than the situation with SA?
There’s every chance I’m completely wrong. But whilst the first 18 months saw a lot of average players get caps; it has always seemed to me that young talented players have been given chances under Lancaster.
Was really hoping George would get a start, as I still think he should be ahead of Webber! I think apart from inside centre and one of the wings this is our starting 15. Not the bench I want to see come the Fiji game though.
My bench would be 16. George, 17. Vunipola, 18. Brookes, 19. Kruis, 20. Morgan, 21. Wiggy, 22. Farrell, 23. Slade.
There is a real contrast on the bench between forwards and backs! The forwards on the bench look like they could be the bench for the World Cup, but the backs? Really hope not. Care over Wiggy? Cips over Farrell? 12T over anyone?
Care on form yes, Care atm, probably not.
I find it hard to equate pragmatic with choosing Sam for the final 31.To me it is a huge risk based on flimsey evidence of just one decent performance v France B.I would hope in 12/24 months time he will be ready to be our regular 12 but to throw him in the deep end of a rwc is unfair to him other players and the nation.SL is obsessed with him ditto 12t’s
I can understand the obsession though, with lighter more creative players at 10 and 13 the need for power and defensive solidity at 12 becomes greater – I think SL sees him as the ideal player both in attack and defense to fill that role. I don’t think BB, 12T or Burrell offer the full package that he has the potential too. If Tuilagi was available maybe he wouldn’t be there now and Eastmond would but you can see why he is at the moment
However totally agree re 12T, don’t know what SL is expecting to see that he hasn’t already
Stu
As someone who is knocking on a bit I am convinced there is no substitute fo
For experience.Burrell and Barritt have played 12 in union at international level many times.Sam is just one game.Too much of a gamble for me
Normally I would agree wholeheartedly, I’m not so young myself unfortunately. In this case however, I think the point of difference Burgess has over these 2 makes him worth considering
I think one thing we mustn’t forget with Burgess is who’s coaching him. Andy Farrell was one of the best Rugby League players of his generation, and a similar size and style to Burgess. Farrell left it too late in his career to make the switch and be a great Union player, but he will be putting all his knowledge of making that switch to help Burgess with the transition. Farrell also had the same dilemma of where he was going to play, and started at 6 before moving to 12. There is no-one better to be coaching Burgess than Farrell.