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England make nine changes to the team beaten by Ireland last March

(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has named an England team to face Tonga that shows nine changes from the defeat to Ireland last March that consigned them to a derisory fifth-place finish in the Guinness Six Nations. The head coach has since been on a mission to transform the squad with a view to the 2023 World Cup in France and multiple new players were blooded across the summer series while front-line players were touring with the Lions or rested.

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Jones has now balanced that July campaign with what took place earlier in 2021 and arrived at a much-changed XV that includes repositioning for Tom Curry from openside to No8. However, injury doubt Marcus Smith has settled for a bench role with Owen Farrell named at the starting No10.

It was already signposted there would be upheaval when Jones confirmed his XV for the Autumn Nations Series opener as Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson, Ollie Lawrence, George Ford, Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mark Wilson and Billy Vunipola, starters in the March loss to Ireland, weren’t chosen in the squad due to injury or being out of favour.

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Confirmation of the England team was delayed by 45 minutes on Thursday after it emerged that a member of the support staff had a positive lateral flow test for Covid and was now isolated, a development that resulted in everyone undergoing an additional lateral flow test.

Farrell, Jonny May, Ben Youngs, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje and Curry are the repeat starters from Dublin eight months ago. Farrell will captain the side at fly-half, with Curry, Ellis Genge and Courtney Lawes named England vice-captains. Manu Tuilagi makes his first appearance for England since March 2020 at centre with Henry Slade also in the midfield.

“We have had two good preparation camps in Jersey and Pennyhill Park, worked really hard and we are ready for a tough, physical game,” said Jones. “We respect Tonga greatly and we know that with props like Siegfried Fisi’ihoi and Ben Tameifuna, we are going to have to go in the front door before the back door. We are especially looking forward to getting back out in front of a full crowd at Twickenham and playing some entertaining, exciting rugby for all of the supporters, we can’t wait to have them back.”

May and Adam Radwan will be on the wings, Freddie Steward is picked at full-back and Youngs is set to earn his 110th cap for England. Sinckler joins hooker Jamie George in the front row, while Itoje and Jonny Hill complete the tight-five. Sam Underhill will be openside flanker. Alex Mitchell could make his England debut after being named among the finishers.

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Elsewhere Jamie Blamire, Alex Dombrandt and Smith could add to the caps they achieved for the first time this summer. Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels and George Furbank make up the remaining finishers.

ENGLAND (vs Tonga, Saturday)
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Jonny May, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry. Reps: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Alex Dombrandt, 21. Alex Mitchell, 22. Marcus Smith, 23. George Furbank.

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Comments

1 Comment
J
Jim 1200 days ago

Let's hope Freddie goes well. I'm sure Radwan will dazzle. Where did Mitchell come from though, I hope he does well but surely there are plenty in the line at scrum half ahead there?

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JW 50 minutes ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

Sorta “rent a comment” kinda guy really.

Haha yep another great way to say it.


Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?


Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.


From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.


This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.


Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

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