Experienced centre Henry Slade has been disregarded of England’s Rugby World Cup squad within the shock omission from Steve Borthwick’s 33-player choice.
Slade had featured in 30 of England’s 37 internationals for the reason that 2019 match and had hoped to function at a 3rd World Cup, however finds himself disregarded with Joe Marchant favoured at exterior centre.
Rookie hooker Theo Dan, who earned his first cap in opposition to Wales, is an eye catching inclusion within the entrance row, however there is no such thing as a place for his fellow debutants in Cardiff, with each Tom Pearson and Tom Willis squeezed out of the again row.
With Alex Dombrandt, who has began each England check this yr, omitted alongside the youthful Willis brother, it leaves Borthwick with out specialist quantity eight back-up for Billy Vunipola, who continues to be working his means again from a knee subject and is but to function underneath the England head coach.
Versatile again rowers Ben Earl and Lewis Ludlam are most well-liked, with Jack Willis, Tom Curry and vice-captain Courtney Lawes finishing the again row choices within the squad.
Gloucester wing Jonny May is one other veteran again to fail to make the reduce, whereas prop Mako Vunipola is absent after failing to get well from his again harm.
England start their World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Argentina in Marseille on 9 September and likewise face Japan, Chile and Samoa in Pool D.
“Rugby World Cups involve unique challenges in terms of the demands on players, the need for squad flexibility and the limited number of squad places available,” mentioned Borthwick.
“France 2023 is no different, but I am confident we have selected a squad of 33 that is well able to meet those challenges and leave us best placed to be at our most competitive in this exciting tournament.
“There have been a number of very difficult selection decisions to make, given the quality of our wider training squad. Some very good players have missed out on selection such has been the competition for places over the last eight weeks and more of preparation.
“As Saturday’s game in Cardiff proved, we have a series of demanding Test matches through August as we continue that preparation towards our opening Rugby World Cup pool game against an in-form Argentina side.”
With Mako Vunipola absent, Bevan Rodd joins Ellis Genge and Joe Marler because the three loosehead props, whereas Will Stuart, Kyle Sinckler and Dan Cole are chosen at tighthead. Jamie George and Jack Walker, who had additionally been an harm doubt, make the reduce alongside Dan at hooker.
Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, George Martin and David Ribbans are the specialist locks, with Lawes additionally in a position to provide second row cowl.
Experienced scrum-halves Ben Youngs and Danny Care are joined by Jack van Poortvliet, with Owen Farrell, George Ford and Marcus Smith offering Borthwick with loads of depth at fly-half.
Marchant, Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi are the specialist centres included, with Farrell additionally prone to function at 12 in playmaking partnership with Ford sooner or later in the course of the match,
The adaptable Elliot Daly can also be considered as an possibility at exterior centre, although the Saracens again can even press for a beginning shirt on the wing. Anthony Watson, Freddie Steward, Max Malins and Freddie Steward full Borthwick’s 33.
England have three extra video games earlier than the World Cup begins to attempt to construct some momentum, with Saturday’s defeat to Wales a fourth defeat since Borthwick took cost forward of this yr’s Six Nations.
They host Warren Gatland’s facet in a return fixture at Twickenham on Saturday, earlier than a visit to Dublin to satisfy Ireland and a house fixture in opposition to Fiji full their World Cup warm-up fixtures.
Borthwick indicated after the loss in Cardiff that he might, if required, utilise a few of these disregarded of his squad in these warm-up fixtures, as Eddie Jones, his predecessor, did 4 years in the past.
England’s official 2023 Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards (19)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)***
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)*
Theo Dan (Saracens, 1 cap)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)*
Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)**
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)*
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)***
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 20 caps)*
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)**
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
David Ribbans (Toulon, 6 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)*
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps) **
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
Backs (14)
Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 7 caps)
Danny Care (Harlequins, 88 caps)*
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)*
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 106 caps)**
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 82 caps)**
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 19 caps)
Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 16 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 51 caps)**
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
Anthony Watson (unattached, 55 caps)**
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)***
*denotes variety of Rugby World Cup tournaments performed
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk
