The time has once again come for Stuart Lancaster to make the long and arduous decision on his next cut for England’s 45-man World Cup training squad, and it will be the toughest decision he has made yet. Judging from his previous cut to the squad, he is favouring experience over potential with Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly failing to make the downsized team. But his next cut will take even more thought and consideration when picking the players who will eventually make up the main body of England’s final 31-man World Cup squad. Each position will be fiercely contested, but as always, a number of players’ World Cup dreams will be shattered in the next four days.
Front Row – K Brookes (Newcastle), A Corbisiero (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), J Marler (Harlequins), D Wilson (Bath), M Vunipola (Saracens), J George (Sarcens), T Youngs (Leicester)
In terms of the front row, it’s safe to say the usual suspects of Dan Cole, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Joe Marler and Tom Youngs should safely make the squad; they’ve featured regularly for England and make up the core of England’s front row. Matt Mullan and Kieran Brookes will know that they’re battling for their right to remain in Lancaster’s plans; they have both had successful seasons and are relatively inexperienced in an England jersey but the way they have applied themselves in Denver will ultimately tell. England have their number one in the hooking position, but who will support Tom Youngs is another very tough decision.
Jamie George, Rob Webber and Luke Cowan-Dickie have had great seasons for their respective clubs and it truly is hard to pick between them; if they go on experience it’ll have to be Webber, the only capped player amongst them, but in terms of season success, I feel Jamie George might well have put his hand up to be Tom Youngs’ number two. Filling the boots of the injured Schalk Brits, he truly came into his own this season and helped Saracens become a dominant force both in set pieces and open play. George fits perfectly into the ethos of England’s squad and would compliment the rest of the players around him. Webber and Cowan-Dickie will have to have really impressed Lancaster in Denver to avoid leaving the squad.
Second Row – D Attwood (Bath), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), G Parling (Leicester)
Over the years England has developed such an adapt and diverse group of second rows with Courtney Lawes leading the way in his ‘never say die’ approach, a man willing to lay everything on the line for the betterment of his club and country. In the five locks that remain, not down to lack of effort or desire, but more to experience, Lancaster will surely be considering whether to drop George Kruis or Dave Atwood. They have both impressed for their clubs and for England alike and deserve to have made it to Denver. But they are up against a trio that will be very hard to break; for me George Kruis is most likely to make the team due to the fact he was integral to Saracens and their premiership winning season.
Back Row – J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Vunipola (Saracens)
Robshaw, Wood, B.Vunipola, Haskell and Morgan should and most likely will still be part of the World Cup squad come the end of the week, but for Calum Clark and Matt Kvesic these will be nervous days. It’s a given that they both deserve to be part of England’s squad, but I would be surprised to see either of these two when England name their 31-man squad at the end of the month. England’s 6,7 and 8 are arguably the most hotly contested positions in the squad and I personally don’t feel that either quite make the grade in terms of consistency and match presence. Both men are still young and have plenty of time to prove themselves in the future, but for this year’s World Cup I believe they should be overlooked.
Scrum-halves – D Care (Harlequins), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester)
The scrum half selection process, for me, is a straight forward one. Danny Care and Ben Youngs have been alternating for a few years in terms of being England’s number one and will definitely be there come the end of the week. Richard Wigglesworth, despite not having been in contention for a starting spot, brings a kicking game that none of the other England scrum halves can match. This makes him a powerful weapon to have as a match is coming to an end and needs to be closed out. Unfortunately Lee Dickson, who it has to be said is a fantastic player in his own right, is up against a group of players who are at the top of their games and he simply doesn’t bring enough to the table to warrant a place in the squad. Coupled with the fact he hasn’t nailed down a starting position for his club side with Kahn Fotuali’i sharing his place, Dickson won’t be there after Lancaster’s cut this week.
Fly-halves – D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath)
If you had to pick a fly half to be cut from Lancaster’s squad, most would point the finger at Danny Cipriani, and you couldn’t argue with that decision. George Ford and Owen Farrell have been battling for the number 10 jersey for the last year and it is still entirely up for contention as to who will start for England. They are both strong kickers, ball runners and distributors of the ball and having either of them start would be great for England. Cipriani, however, in my opinion must come to the World Cup; if not for his flair and raw talent then his versatility in positions, particularly with the full-back position being vulnerable to injury. I expect to see all three men still in the squad come the end of the week.
Centres – B Barritt (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), J Joseph (Bath), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester)
Since Manu Tuilagi’s off-field misdemeanours earlier this year, England’s centre selection process will have kept Lancaster awake at night. In terms of those who I believe will definitely make the cut – I see Brad Barritt, Luther Burrell, Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade and Sam Burgess; Burrell and Joseph formed a formidable midfield for England during the Six Nations this year breaking defences with their powerful lines and fast footwork, with Brad Barritt supporting them with his brawn and heroic defensive performances. Henry Slade excelled in this year’s Premiership and he was rewarded with being named the Young Player of the Year – his penetrating running lines and precise distribution warrants his inclusion.
Sam Burgess has to be in the squad based on his versatility – he is arguably far better suited to play in the back row for England, but either way – his ferociousness, power and commitment make him invaluable. Mike Ford spoke of the ‘feel good’ factor Burgess brings to a squad and this will be crucial in England’s campaign. It is therefore, a battle between Billy Twelvetrees and Kyle Eastmond to fight for their place in the squad. They have both proved to be great servants for England over the years, and as I have stressed they deserve to be here. In terms of who should be in the squad come the end of the week, I would take Twelvetrees; he has led from the front all season as captain of Gloucester and will bring a wealth of experience that he can use to boost the rest of the squad. Kyle Eastmond has suffered injury setbacks this year, most notably prior to the start of the Six Nations, and has struggled to put in a consistent streak of matches.
Wings – C Ashton (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins)
The Six Nations confirmed to me that the core of England’s wingers will be made up of Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson and Jonny May and Lancaster should include them in the squad following the cut this week. They performed consistently and effectively and will provide a direct threat to any of the defences England come across in the World Cup. If it is to be a decision between Ashton, Yarde and Rokoduguni as to who will be cut, I believe that Rokoduguni will be lucky to still be part of the squad in a weeks time. Chris Ashton has been back to his clinical best this year, scoring seventeen tries in thirty appearances, statistics that warrant an inclusion in any squad. Marland Yarde will have been bitterly disappointed to have not played in the Six Nations this year for England, but his performances for Harlequins this season and his undeniable speed and penetrative ability in open play is enough reason for Lancaster to at least give him a chance in the upcoming fixtures against France this month.
Yarde has proved his worth for England already, most notably against New Zealand a year and a half ago during the Autumn Internationals and should make the cut this week. I might be slightly over-critical, but I don’t think Rokoduguni has made a sufficient enough transition from club to country to warrant a place in the squad; his performances for Bath, particularly at the start of last season, were a sight to behold with his dynamic running and ruthless finishing, but he has never produced that for England. The fact Rokoduguni was a late replacement for David Strettle, who pulled out the squad on personal grounds, demonstrates that he was never going to be in the running for a squad place.
Fullbacks – M Brown (Harlequins), A Goode (Saracens)
Mike Brown has filled the role as England’s number one fullback exceedingly well over the past few years and was desperately unlucky to have not been included on the Lions tour in 2013. His powerful running game, safe hands and unparalleled consistency has meant his name is one of the first on Lancaster’s team sheet and he will be England’s starting fullback in the World Cup. Luckily for England, Alex Goode provides world class support to Mike Brown with his precise kicking game and deceptively effective running game – both men will be in England’s final 31-man squad.
Whatever happens this week we can be rest assured that Stuart Lancaster will have done his homework and spent countless hours scrutinising the squad in order to find the perfect mix that will prove to be most effective at the World Cup… I’m sure we’re in store for some surprise departures and inclusions in the next week and before the 31-man squad is named.
Players who will be cut: Matt Mullan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Atwood, Calum Clark, Matt Kvesic, Lee Dickson, Kyle Eastmond, Semesa Rokoduguni, Rob Webber