England head coach Eddie Jones has made one change to his starting XV and a couple of positional changes for his team’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Japan on Saturday.
Jones has chosen to recall fly-half George Ford for the last-four fixture, meaning captain Owen Farrell shifts out to inside-centre with Manu Tuilagi moving out to outside-centre. While Henry Slade moves to the bench.
The line-up has been used throughout the World Cup and it was a surprise last time out when Ford was among the subs during his side’s 40-16 victory over the Wallabies.
Other than that it is as you were in the starting XV with Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler in the front-three, with Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes in the second-row pairing.
Last weekend’s man of the match Tom Curry continues his rise from blindside-flanker, with Sam Underhill at openside-flanker, as Billy Vunipola is set to win his 50th cap finishing up the forwards from No 8.
Ben Youngs remains at scrum-half and as mentioned above is joined by Ford in the half-backs, with Farrell and Tuilagi in the midfield.
Jonny May has recovered from a hamstring injury to take up his spot on the left-wing, with Anthony Watson on the right and Elliot Daly concludes the starting line-up from full-back.
Mark Wilson is the only other change among the replacements, taking the place of Lewis Ludlam, while there is also huge experience with the likes of Joe Marler, George Kruis and Dan Cole among those Jones can call upon.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final Jones believes that England have what it takes to defeat the All Blacks, with the players experience in British and Irish Lions being a key factor.
“The squad has approached the game well with real maturity. It has helped having players here who have been on the Lions tour and played against New Zealand. They have been involved in some of the biggest games in world rugby so this semi-final won’t phase them. New Zealand is a great team, they have an impressive winning record since the last Rugby World Cup. Like any good team, you have got to take away time and space from them you have to find areas you can pressure them. We believe we have identified a number of areas where we can do that,” he said.
England are the underdogs heading into the clash with the reigning back to back World Cup holders and will need a full squad effort if they are to make it to the final next week. We will have to wait what happens but Jones and his side are ready to cause an upset.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad.
Starting XV:
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 37 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 40 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 77 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 63 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 93 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 56 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 43 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 29 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 32 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 79 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 17 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 49 caps)
Replacements:
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 66 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 93 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 39 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks 16 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 8 caps)
22 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
