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.
Borthwick: “We’ve got to defend very well and give them no space"
"When you look at the team this weekend, you see a team packed full of talent. It's got pace. This is a very good England squad packed full of players who know how to play smart rugby and win games,” Borthwick said.
"In terms of Chile, what we see is an incredibly committed team. They try to keep the ball alive. We've got to defend very well and give them no space. We have seen progression over this period of time and I am pleased with the way the team are building and looking forward to that next step on Saturday."
Farrell: “I can’t wait to be back”
“It’s been tough-ish not playing but it has been brilliant seeing what the lads have been doing and I can’t wait to be back,” Farrell said.
“Marcus is obviously a fantastic player. Everybody knows what a talent he is. Hopefully we can link up and get each other involved in the game. There are many different ways of doing that and hopefully having him on the field seeing space will go well,” he added.
Borthwick looks ahead to Farrell’s return and Smith’s first start at 15
"We are all tremendously excited to see our captain on the grass on Saturday. He's been an incredible leader and fantastic influence over the last two weeks. He's been a role model on and off the training field and I'm looking forward to seeing him lead the team out on Saturday,” the head coach said.
"He's [Smith] came on in three appearances off the bench for us at 15 and done well for us. He's a talented player who finds space. I'm pleased with the way the squad is building into this tournament and progressed over the last two weeks."
Borthwick’s thoughts after Japan
After England’s win against Japan, Borthwick spoke of the prospect of Farrell returning to the team given Ford’s impressive performances of late. He said: "You describe it as a problem. I describe it as a fantastic squad of players that I have the privilege to work with, strength in depth across the squad. I think a lot of countries would look on it in an envious manner.
"We build towards Chile next Saturday. I expect there to be another huge English contingent in the crowd. Those supporters out there were outstanding. We are very fortunate to have them.”
He also spoke of the limited time the coaching team and players have had together before the tournament.
"I think that having the full coaching team together for this summer has been an opportunity for us to work as hard as we can to make ground quickly,” he said.
"You've seen strides in some of the fundamental aspects of the game. You've seen growth in our attack. It's always the way that you build the fundamentals through defence, your kicking game, your set-piece and your breakdown, and the attack always takes the longest to come because it takes cohesion.
"Some [coaching] teams have had eight years with the same coaching team to build through that and we’ve had three or four months with our full coaching team in place.
"We're working exceptionally hard every day to move forward."
England team to face Chile
Steve Borthwick has named his team to face Chile on Saturday. Marcus Smith starts at fullback as Owen Farrell returns from his suspension to captain the side at flyhalf as expected. George Ford, England’s star player in the opening rounds and player of the match in both of their pool matches so far moves to the bench to make way for Farrell.
Borthwick has made 12 changes to the side that beat Japan 34-12 at Stade de Nice last Sunday. Two of the four try scorers from last week Lewis Ludlam and Joe Marchant are named in the team with Ludlam starting and Marchant on the bench. Freddie Steward and Courtney Lawes, last week’s captain in the absence of Farrell, are omitted from the team. Bevan Rodd and Theo Dan are given their first RWC starts.
England team: 15. Marcus Smith, 14. Henry Arundell, 13. Elliot Daly, 12. Ollie Lawrence, 11. Max Malins 10. Owen Farrell (capt.), 9. Danny Care, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Theo Dan, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. David Ribbans, 5. George Martin, 6. Lewis Ludlam, 7. Jack Willis, 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Jack Walker, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Joe Marchant
“One of the many great things about the Rugby World Cup is that the tournament provides an excellent opportunity to play against teams that we rarely have a chance to see. It is for that reason that we are particularly looking forward to testing ourselves against Chile on Saturday,” said Borthwick.
“Having watched our next opponent closely, we know that we will have to prepare and play well against a committed Chile team.
“As we head to the next round, it is only right that I once again pay tribute to our excellent supporters who I know will be right behind us in Lille this weekend.”
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth
After England’s win over Japan on Sunday evening, attack coach Richard Wigglesworth shared his thoughts with the press.
He said: “We knew that the first two games were huge. Japan, after what they did in 2019, and Argentina beating us in the autumn. Two big tests out of the way.
“You’ve never met Steve Borthwick (head coach) if you think we are going to be allowed to relax. It’s time for us to push as when you get those two wins it gives us a real chance to improve over the next couple of weeks.
“We’ve got Chile this weekend, then we have a week without a game so we have two big weeks for us making sure that we grow our game.
“I am sure there will be some changes (for Chile) as the lads have played two big test matches on the bounce.
"We are not happy with where we are attack-wise and we are striving to improve. But that is not to do with the kicking game. It's not separate from it either. We want to kick the ball brilliantly so we get it back in a better position or we kick to score.
"As far as the booing goes, it's part and parcel of what you do in international sport. You are in the biggest arenas and fans are entitled to do what they feel is right. From my point of view, the fans have been exceptional.
"We will give them [Chile] absolute respect. It's international rugby and they've worked incredibly hard to get to this World Cup, beating the USA in the great fashion that they did. We have done our homework on them and we will make sure we push on this week."
England set to make changes for third pool fixture
Bonjour et bienvenue to a rather soggy Lille, where the wet weather has come as a bit of a shock after a couple of sun-soaked weeks on the Cote d’Azur. England will confirm their side in little more than 15 minutes, and The Independent understands that Marcus Smith is set for a first career start at full back in a much-changed side. Steve Borthwick is believed to be keen to give opportunities to his wider squad after two weeks of twiddling thumbs - a World Cup debut for Bevan Rodd, for example, almost certainly awaits.
George Kruis returns to England camp
Former England player George Kruis has returned to England camp for the World Cup to work on the lineout, as he has done previously in the Six Nations and Summer Series fixtures. Kruis works with the players and coaches to analyse the lineout, providing added insight from his perspective as a former player.
Three changes for Argentina in team to play against Samoa
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has also made three changes to his team that will face Samoa with experienced centre Matías Moroni earning his third start of the year. Agustín Creevy, who has been named on the bench, will move to second all-time in appearances and play in his 17th World Cup match if he is used. The two other changes to the starting team are forwards Eduardo Bello and Guido Petti who start in the front-row and second-row.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Matías Moroni, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (c), Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Gómez Kodela,Pedro Rubiolo, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomas Cubelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Lucio Cinti
Samoa team to play Argentina
Elsewhere in pool D, Samoa will face Argentina on Friday 22nd. Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua has made one change in the backs and two in the forwards from the team that beat Chile 43-10. Ben Lam starts on the wing, Paul Alo-Emile comes into the front-row, and Brian Alainu’u’ese into the second-row. Fullback Duncan Paia’aua is the only player in the squad to have played every minute of the 2023 World Cup for Samoa so far, and he returns to the starting lineup.
Samoa: Duncan Paia'aua, Nigel Ah-Wong, Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Tumua Manu, Ben Lam, Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine, James Lay, Seilala Lam, Paul Alo-Emile, Brian Alainu'u'ese, Chris Vui (c), Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua.
Replacements: Sama Malolo, Charlie Faumuina, Michael Alaalatoa, Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, Sa Jordan Taufua, Melani Matavao, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Danny Toala
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