George Ford has been dropped to the bench for England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against the Wallabies in a surprising day of selection news.
Hours after it was reported Jordan Petaia will be a shock starter at outside centre for Australia, Eddie Jones unveiled an unexpected midfield of his own for the knockout clash.
Ford, who has been one of England’s best performers this World Cup, has been named amongst the reserves, with captain Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi both shifting one place closer to the ruck, to flyhalf and inside centre respectively. Henry Slade will start at outside centre.
“George Ford will finish the game for us,” said Jones.
“He’ll have a very significant role, we just feel at the start of the game it’s going to be fairly brutal. Having Owen at 10 will serve the team in the best interests.”
In a boost for the Red Roses, both Vunipola brothers will start against Australia, Billy from number 8 having overcome an injury and Mako in the front row for his first run-on appearance of the tournament.
“We feel Mako’s ready to play a significant part in this game. His ability to scrummage and also be effective in general play is a great bonus for us and we’re delighted to have him back into the team…
“Once you get to the quarter-finals it’s about having the right mindset. We know how well we can play, it’s about us playing to our strengths and trying to take away from what Australia want.
“Australia are a clever team, they will have some specific attacking strategies to play against us so we need to have a great situational awareness. We need to defend with brutality and when we have the ball we need play on top of them.”
15. Elliot Daly
14. Anthony Watson
13. Henry Slade
12. Manu Tuilagi
11. Jonny May
10. Owen Farrell (c)
9. Ben Youngs
8. Billy Vunipola
7. Sam Underhill
6. Tom Curry
5. Courtney Lawes
4. Maro Itoje
3. Kyle Sinckler
2. Jamie George
1. Mako Vunipola
Bench
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Joe Marler
18. Dan Cole
19. George Kruis
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Willi Heinz
22. George Ford
23. Jonathan Joseph
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Is lenient the right word? What about oblivious
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Didn't Eddie do this in the three test tour against Aus in 2016? Picked what looked like a bash and barge start and then brought Ford on early and upset the wallaby planning
Englishbob
Guest
Don't know that this selection is that suprising, personally I'd have started Wilson for Billy V on fitness grounds but this is more or less the same team that played so well in Dublin and the first halves in Cardiff and against Scotland. Man for man, and this isn't arrogance but based on skill sets complimenting eachother through consistent selection, I don't know that many of the wallabies would get in the England 15 at the minute, although the tight five is even. Should be a good game, id think England by 7-10 at this stage but if anyone had to win the RWC but England I'd like it to be Aus or Japan. Or Ireland or France.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
What an absurd headline this is. Eddie has made 1 not unexpected run on change with Ford to the bench. And most informed observers were expecting it. Ford is poor on defense and Eddie is obviously planning to totally smash the WBs misfiring attack. Good strategy imo and it'll probly work a treat :)
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
hahahahaha you think the WBs worst forward defender will counter Vunipola .... or anyone else in Englands squad :)
FunBus
Roar Rookie
He rates Launchbury. It's just Joe's bad luck that he's around at one of the strongest periods for English locks.
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
Hoping Ireland will be far enough ahead on around the 60 minute mark to take Sexton and Murray off so they are nice and rested for the big one v England the following week.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Calculated risk, I'd say. He's also got his two best scrum props coming off the bench.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
So adopting Cheika's plan from the Perth test?
RugbyNovice
Guest
He's pretty fast himself, though, right?
RugbyNovice
Guest
Stronger in the loose but not as much in the scrum. With Kruis on the bench and Mako starting, this scrum might actually struggle against the Wallabies, based on the Georgia game.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Expect something different from Eddie . I’m thinking two quick tries by Jonnie May then back to business with the giving us the ball and belting hell out of us, until the last 20 minutes. They will ask a lot of questions that we don’t have answers for. We can still win.
Dave
Guest
And to counter the undersized flankers
Dave
Guest
Jones finally comes out with what I think is the best 15. Slate at 13 is ace, if he is match sharp as tuilagi is not the defender and distributor slate is in the wider channels. Tuilagi v Kerevi is the matchup I'm looking forward too.
Old Bugger
Guest
And, I think I'd have to agree Piru....
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Tuilagi vs Kerevi is going to be a great battle. I rate Slade so glad he is starting.
Faithful
Roar Rookie
I would hardly call Courtney Laws and Itoje light weight - they are big athletic locks that can run and get around the field. The two locks and the 6&7 are mobile - the 6 is actually an open side - I think that’s the reason why Cheika has picked pooper for this match also. We can win if we dominate the English scrum. It’s happened before, let’s hope we can do it again!
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Well that depends on what you think their strengths are? And what game it is you think they are being drawn in to?
jameswm
Roar Guru
"This English team has been selected to bludgeon" Is it not two 7s and a lightweight lock pairing?
jameswm
Roar Guru
I don't know why Neil. I would have England stick to their strengths, not try to take on the Aussies at their own (misguided) game.