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Steve Borthwick updates his England Rugby World Cup squad
By Liam Heagney
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.
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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.
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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.”
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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
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!!
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.