LONDON – England Coach Stuart Lancaster has given a nod to the future after selecting a young team to finish their Rugby World Cup campaign against Uruguay on Saturday in Manchester.
Lancaster has made seven changes to the team who were defeated by Australia at Twickenham on Saturday night including handing two players their Rugby World Cup debuts while also giving two players their first starts of the tournament.
Many will say that the changes are far too late but Henry Slade and Jack Nowell will finally appear for England and start at centre and wing respectively while scrum-half Danny Care and full back Alex Goode will make their first starts against Uruguay.
The additional changes include Mako Vunipola who will come into the starting side for Joe Marler as will James Haskell who comes in for Tom Wood who drops to the bench. In the backs, Owen Farrell will partner George Ford in the 10, 12 positions.
The match might signal the final game in charge for Coach Stuart Lancaster as there have been many hints since England’s loss to Australia that he plans to step aside. It will also likely be Robshaw’s final match as captain.
England team to play Uruguay
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Geoff Parling
6 James Haskell
7 Chris Robshaw (c)
8 Nick Easter
9 Danny Care
10 George Ford
11 Jack Nowell
12 Owen Farrell
13 Henry Slade
14 Anthony Watson
15 Alex Goode
Replacements
16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 David Wilson, 19 George Kruis, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Mike Brown
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