The difference between the English and Springbok bench tells a story and Steve Borthwick’s use of his replacements needs to improve drastically if England are to salvage their autumn.
England must rally against inherent conservatism to unleash a backline of gifted athletes or risk mediocrity
Steve Borthwick’s first ever enhanced Elite Player Squad selection looks fairly predictable on the face of it but it might just throw the cat among the pigeons.
For the past 18 months, the Bears wing has been one of England's sharpest weapons, though national honours continue to elude him.
The Queenslander has brought defensive excellence to a team whose DNA is all-out attack.
Both teams were soundly beaten in the semi-finals, New Zealand swatted aside 55-31 by French flair while Ireland were depowered 31-20 by a physical England who especially bullied their scrum.
Northampton have mirrored the England scrum-half's own rise and will travel with confidence to face Leinster in Dublin.
A fed-up Sam Nixon almost retired at 25, but returning to France and the turbulent waters of the ProD2 has given the prop a new lease of life.
Saracens fullback Alex Goode has said it was a “tough period” not being selected by Eddie Jones for England.
We have selected a standout XV from the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where South Africa triumphed over England to lift their third title and second over England.