England team news LIVE: Rugby World Cup announcement for Chile clash as Owen Farrell returns
England captain Owen Farrell is eligible to play again after his ban as Steve Borthwick’s men aim to build on opening two wins
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Your support makes all the difference.England will name their team to take on minnows Chile this afternoon, ahead of their third match at the Rugby World Cup this weekend.
England have produced a mixed bag at the tournament so far, as a disastrous set of warm-up games were somewhat washed away by a surprisingly impressive win over Argentina in their opener, with a retro drop goal strategy from the boot of George Ford stunning the Pumas in a 27-10 win.
A fairly dismal opening 40 minutes in their second game against Japan followed, as the attack failed to click, and although they pulled away from their opponents late on, it was a largely ugly 34-12 triumph. However, they did secure the four-try bonus point and are in complete control of Group C with nine points from a possible 10.
Underdogs Chile, competing at their first World Cup, now await in the third round of action and Steve Borthwick’s men will be expecting a comfortable victory to all but secure a quarter-final spot with a game to spare. Borthwick is expected to ring the changes as he announces his team for the contest in Lille, with skipper Owen Farrell set to return from his red-card ban at fly half, Marcus Smith to start at full back and Henry Arundell potentially coming in on the wing.
Follow live coverage of the announcement below, while you can get all the Rugby World Cup odds here.
George Ford hopes drop-goal work with Jonny Wilkinson can be a World Cup weapon
George Ford has been working with Jonny Wilkinson to turn the drop-goal into a weapon at the World Cup.
Ford landed three as England opened the tournament with a 27-10 rout of Argentina in Marseille last Saturday and is ready to continue using them if the opportunity arises.
To assist with the tactic, the Sale fly-half has been perfecting his technique with Wilkinson, who famously landed the drop-goal that enabled England to lift the World Cup in 2003.
George Ford hopes drop-goal work with Jonny Wilkinson can be a World Cup weapon
Ford landed three drop-goals as England opened the tournament with a 27-10 rout of Argentina in Marseille last Saturday.
Joe Marler uses his head to spare England’s blushes after error-strewn performance against Japan
It was a try that rather summed it all up. For 56 minutes, England and Japan had stumbled about, frantic, flustered and fumbling in the Nice heat. An error-ridden contest hung in the balance – until Joe Marler used his head.
It was fortuitous in nature, as it felt like it had to be on a night like this. An errant pass, a flick of Will Stuart’s shoulder and a bounce off the bonce. Courtney Lawes collected the refuse and England salvaged the situation. Maro Itoje had promised they were prepared to win by any means necessary but few expected them to need to put an equally error-prone Japan away.
Joe Marler uses his head to spare England’s blushes on error-strewn night
England 34-12 Japan: England escaped with a bonus-point victory but late tries could not hide the flaws apparent
Lewis Ludlam urges booing fans to keep the faith after England’s win over Japan
Lewis Ludlam has urged booing fans to keep the faith after admitting that England could have shown more enterprise in their 34-12 World Cup victory over Japan.
Head coach Steve Borthwick declared it was job done as England took a stranglehold on Pool D through a bonus-point win, but after the 14-man rout of Argentina it felt like a backwards step had been taken on a messy evening at the Stade de Nice.
Early in the third quarter supporters groaned when Alex Mitchell – a live-wire scrum-half whose instinct is to run – booted the ball dead and the jeering grew in volume when the kicking continued.
Lewis Ludlam urges booing fans to keep the faith after England’s win over Japan
Early in the third quarter supporters groaned when Alex Mitchell booted the ball dead and the jeering grew in volume when the kicking continued.
Marcus Smith starts as England full-back for first time against Chile
Marcus Smith will provide a cutting edge from full-back as England look to give their attack lift off in their World Cup clash with Chile in Lille.
Harlequins fly-half Smith starts in the number 15 jersey for the first time having appeared as a replacement in the previous four Tests, providing a lively counter-attacking threat and extra playmaking option.
Marcus Smith starts as England full-back for first time against Chile
Harlequins fly-half Smith starts in the number 15 jersey for the first time having appeared as a replacement in the previous four Tests.
Why are England kicking so much at the Rugby World Cup?
Winning ugly, it is said, is a hallmark of great sides, but it can be an indicator of an average one, too. What, then, are England, who have one foot in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after beating Japan? For 60 minutes on Sunday, they produced a performance that only a mother could love – but a final quarter acceleration ensured they took five pool points away from a tricky evening.
It may depend on how you view a Rorschach contest of a game and the merits of England’s kick pressure strategy. Take the positives, as England were understandably inclined to afterwards, and a bonus point win was job very much done. Japan are not the force of four years ago but produced a stern defensive showing for good periods of the fixture. Their trademark attacking invention tested England’s own ramparts, but these held firm – one try conceded in two games is an excellent return.
Why are England kicking so much at the Rugby World Cup?
England’s kick pressure strategy may be unpopular with some supporters but appears to be here to stay
England cannot afford to ‘sleepwalk’ into Chile game, warns Ollie Chessum
Lock Ollie Chessum has warned that England cannot afford to “sleepwalk” into their next Rugby World Cup pool fixture against Chile.
After two fixtures in the south of France, England will make a shorter trip from their Le Touquet training base across the north of the country to Lille for their third Pool D fixture on Saturday.
World Cup debutants Chile are, on paper, the weakest of the five nations in the pool, but the South Americans have caused problems for Japan and Samoa in their opening two matches in France.
England cannot afford to ‘sleepwalk’ into Chile game, warns Ollie Chessum
A number of smaller nations have impressed at this World Cup so far
How England can solve the Owen Farrell and George Ford problem
For Steve Borthwick, it is a problem of plenty. In George Ford, Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith, the England head coach has three high-class fly halves – the question for the remainder of this Rugby World Cup is how best to utilise them.
How England can solve the Farrell and Ford problem
Farrell returns from his ban to captain England against Chile but Ford’s performances at the Rugby World Cup pose a conundrum
Borthwick describes Billy Vunipola’s impact
“He's a great influence in the squad,” he said about the Saracens player. “Whether he is on the field or not, he's a brilliant influence. He's played in the very biggest games. I thought he did well last week and has trained even sharper this week."
Farrell describes his time away from being in the playing team and being a bad watcher
"I don't detach myself at all. I'm knackered by the end,” the captain said. “I wouldn't describe myself as a good watcher - I feel involved and every emotion that goes with it, sometimes even more so than if I was playing. I wouldn't say I am unbelievably loud, it's more the emotion of the game. I feel like I go through it all the time."
Farrell: “We always want to improve"
"I'm excited to play for this team. We are in a brilliant position as we stand here and we want to kick on. I want to be part of it,” Farrell said, eager to get back on the pitch.
"I think we have played very good, winning rugby. The team has figured out ways to impose themselves on the game and figured out how to close off games, which is a big plus. We always want to improve, there is always stuff you can do better. We are excited to get into it. Talking about the past, we are trying to deal with what is here now. In the first two games, we've figured out good ways to win the game,” he added.
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