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Steve Borthwick updates his England Rugby World Cup squad

27 Aug 2023

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England boss Steve Borthwick has updated his Rugby World Cup squad, confirming on Sunday that Jonny May will travel to France next Thursday as the replacement for the unavailable Anthony Watson.

Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell remain part of the squad, though, as does George Martin despite their respective knocks which cast various levels of doubts over their participation.

Borthwick had originally named his 33 on August 7, two days after the Summer Nations Series defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

It was the following Saturday when Jack van Poortvliet pulled up lame in the rematch with the Welsh in London, his ankle requiring an operation which resulted in the call-up of Alex Mitchell.

Then last Thursday, Watson, who had started in the August 19 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, was ruled out of the finals due to a calf injury sustained in that match.

May, who had continued to train with the England squad despite not making the initial 33, was named in the XV to start against Fiji.

He went on to score in that game at Twickenham on Saturday and despite England losing 22-30, the winger has now been officially named as the replacement for Watson.

Borthwick had a number of other additional players in camp last week, namely Joe Cokanasiga as it had emerged that Daly was reportedly a major concern due to the knee injury he suffered against the Irish.

Another back three doubt was Arundell, who was described as having a “freak back spasm”, but both he and Daly were cleared by the medics, as was Martin, and they all stay in the 33 for the finals which begin with the September 9 pool match versus Argentina in Marseille.

A statement read: “England men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed his official 33-player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

“Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) and Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints) are included in the squad replacing Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers) and Anthony Watson.”

England’s official 2023 Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards (19):
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)***
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)*
Theo Dan (Saracens, 3 cap)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 18 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)*
Jamie George (Saracens, 79 caps)**
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 70 caps)*
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 100 caps)***
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 21 caps)*
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 82 caps)**
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
David Ribbans (Toulon, 8 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)*
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)**
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 4 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 13 caps)

Backs (14):
Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 8 caps)
Danny Care (Harlequins, 90 caps)*
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 59 caps)*
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 107 caps)**
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 85 caps)**
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 21 caps)
Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 19 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 73 caps)**
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 24 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)**
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 124 caps)***
*denotes number of Rugby World Cup tournaments played

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Comments

3 Comments

Mark 623 days ago

There really isn't anything to set your pulse racing is there.

Has beens, never weres, and club journeymen.

Add to that the risk averse culture that seems to embody the England coaching team and I'm glad I haven't paid to go to France.

It'll be a hard enough watch on telly!!

KiwiSteve 624 days ago

How the hell did Danny Care get 90 caps? Brilliant player always sidelined/ subbed in Eng. And yet 10 away from a centurion. Imagine if he had started instead of Youngs who likes to read a book before passing out of a ruck.

Hilary 624 days ago

He didnt look brilliant against Fiji - eg he gifted them one of their tries - admittedly, he's marginally better than Youngs but the standard is very low. We should have been building a young team for the 2027 WC and given Harry Randall experience at test level in my opinion.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 19 hours ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 20 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 20 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 20 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 20 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 20 hours ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 20 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 20 hours ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 21 hours ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 21 hours ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 21 hours ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 21 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 22 hours ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍