England veteran Henry Slade is one of several big names to be left out of the England World Cup squad, according to UK media reports.
Steve Borthwick is set to name his 33-man squad late Monday or early Tuesday morning AEST but leading rugby writers appear to have received a leaked squad list.
Players who were dropped were informed by Borthwick.
The omission of the 30-year-old utility back grabbed the biggest headlines after he has been a key figure for England over the past eight years.
The Telegraph reported he was “devastated” and “blindsided” by Borthwick’s decision.
“Henry Slade is devastated by his shock omission from England’s World Cup squad, with the experienced centre paying the price for Steve Borthwick’s desire to prioritise bulk and versatility,” the paper reported.
“Borthwick told the 30-year-old that he wanted more cover on the wings with Joe Marchant the prime beneficiary. Marchant will join the hulking pair of Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi as the only specialist centres in the squad, although Elliot Daly and captain Owen Farrell will be able to provide further cover.
Siya Kolisi of South Africa is tackled by Henry Slade . (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images).
“Other casualties from England’s wider training squad include No 8 Alex Dombrandt, hooker Jamie Blamire and wing Joe Cokanasiga who did not seize their opportunities in England’s dispiriting 20-9 defeat to Wales on Saturday. Northampton second row David Ribbans and the Saracens pair of Theo Dan and Ben Earl have made the cut with Borthwick opting for a heavyweight balance of 19 forwards to 14 backs.
“Wings Max Malins and Henry Arundell, who can both cover full back, have also won selection ahead of Cokanasiga and Jonny May.
“Slade, a veteran of 56 caps and two World Cup campaigns, is the highest-profile casualty and is understood to have felt “blindsided” by his axing. He started the past four Six Nations under Steve Borthwick and was once seen as a centrepiece of the England midfield, playing a leading role in helping Eddie Jones’ side to reach the World Cup final.”
Borthwick will confirm his World Cup squad “against a backdrop of dread and despondency beyond the England camp” according to Chris Foy in the Daily Mail.
The team has lost its last three Tests including a surprise reverse against Wales on the weekend.
Borthwick is going to announce three weeks before World Rugby’s deadline, which he said was necessary to build clarity and cohesion.
“All the factors play a role where you have to have the full picture of information,” Borthwick said. “Saturday was one part of that picture. The training period over the last few weeks is part of that. The way they played last season, the way they have played for England is all a factor. The analysis, the information is all part of that. Ultimately then it comes down to my decision for those tight calls. Those are the ones where you take a walk and have a good think and see how you feel.”
England’s likely World Cup squad
Forwards: Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Bevan Rodd, Jamie George, Jack Walker, Theo Dan, Kyle Sinckler, Dan Cole, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, David Ribbans, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Curry, Jack Willis, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.
Backs: Ben Youngs, Danny Care, Jack van Poortvliet, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi, Ollie Lawrence, Joe Marchant, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Max Malins, Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward.
World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen believes the All Blacks will have a stronger squad for this year’s World Cup than the one he took to the 2019 tournament.
Ian Foster will name his 33-man squad later Monday.
The All Blacks are 4-0 this season.
“They’re playing well. They’ve got a lot of self-belief and you saw that on Saturday when they come from behind, with what was a very young team on the park, and they found a way to win it. I think all systems are go,” Hansen told Newstalk ZB.
“They’ve set out a plan that they wanted to win the Rugby Championship and to get some confidence in the team after last year. So they went about that and won every test match. They secured the Bledisoe Cup and that allowed them to experiment. So you can’t knock their plan. I think it’s been outstanding.
Head coach Ian Foster talks to media during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Mt Smart Stadium on June 28, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
“I think they played well. So this comes down now as selectors. How can they get the 33 people that suit tournament rugby? The World Cup is not like a normal tour. There’s certain restrictions that you can and can’t do and you can’t just up and replace people. So you’ve got to have a bit of utility in your squad.
“Everybody’s put their hand up and now it’s just a matter of the selectors sorting out what they want and there will be some really good players miss out, which is tough but bodes well for the team itself. I think they’ll end up selecting a side that’s stronger than 2019 that we took to the last World Cup.
“They’re going to go there with a lot of confidence and with a lot of players in form, whoever is the 34th guy is gonna be pretty unlucky.”
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber faces a difficult few days as he finalises his 33-man squad to defend the Rugby World Cup title after admitting several fringe players put themselves in contention for selection on Saturday.
Constant chopping and changing has been a feature of Springbok sides this season as Nienaber cast his net wide.
This was again evident in Saturday’s 24-13 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday when they fielded almost an entirely new team from the one that narrowly beat the Pumas in Johannesburg the week before.
“That has always been the plan,” Nienaber told reporters. “We said we would try and do this and explained it to the players at the start of the season.
“We have given 38 players the opportunity to play (in four games) and it is going to be a very difficult squad selection meeting. Many guys put their hands up over the last few weeks.
“We tried to make sure everyone had a proper run of minutes, though having said that it is impossible to give each player the same game-time because you want to build combinations.
“Some guys also finished their (domestic seasons) a long time ago, others more recently, so we tried to balance that too.”
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Experienced centre Lukhanyo Am was forced off at halftime on Saturday with a knee injury and Nienaber was coy on the early prognosis.
“I am not sure on Lukhanyo, at halftime the team doctor just said he cannot continue,” he said.
The Boks managed to seal victory despite a poor first half in which they were heavily penalised.
“We had to get our stuff in order to grind out this victory,” Nienaber admitted. “Sometimes you concede penalties because you … get it technically wrong, which is one thing, but the avoidable penalties, which are in your own control, we have to limit those.
“The World Cup will be so close and so tight, where any team can beat any other on the day, so discipline will be a big issue.”
European based forwards Chris Vui and Michael Alaalatoa were named co-captains as Samoa on Sunday named three former All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup squad.
Bristol loose forward Vui and Leinster prop Alaalatoa were included in a 32-man squad for the tournament starting in France on September 9, with one player still to be confirmed.
Coach Seilala Mapuusa named three former New Zealand internationals — fly-half Lima Sopoaga, flanker Steven Luatua and prop Charlie Faumuina — while fly-half Christian Leali’ifano represented Australia at the 2019 World Cup.
Waratahs forward Taleni Seu has also been included after a strong season for the NSW side.
Samoa open their campaign against Chile in Bordeaux on September 16, followed by matches against Argentina, Japan and England.
They reached the knockout phase in their first three World Cup appearances, in 1991, 1995 and 1999, but have failed to do so in the five subsequent tournaments.
Samoa World Cup squad:
Backs: Neria Foma’i, Alai D’Angelo Leuila, Nigel Ah Wong, Ben Lam, Ed Fidow, Tumua Manu, Danny Toala, Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Duncan Paia’aua, Lima Sopoaga, Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine, Ereatara Enari, Melani Matavao.
Forwards: Fritz Lee, So’otala Fa’aso’o, Jordan Taufua, Alamanda Motuga, Miracle Fai’ilagi, Steven Luatua, Taleni Seu, Chris Vui (co-capt), Sam Slade, Theo McFarland, Brian Alainu’uese, Charlie Faumuina, Paul Alo-Emile, Michael Alaalatoa (co-capt), Jordan Lay, Seilala Lam, Sama Malolo, Luteru Tolai
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