Exeter Chiefs
England's potential WC Squad, back row
By Plympton Chief
June 10 2023
The Telegraph is been running a series on England’s potential squad for the up-coming World Cup. I thought it was worth reproducing here for those who don’t subscribe to the Tele. There will, no doubt, be some differing opinions offered here.
Here we look at the back-row.
Flankers
Courtney Lawes
Tom Curry
Lewis Ludlam
Ben Curry
Ben Earl
Tom Pearson
Matt Rogerson
Jack Willis
Sam Underhill
Callum Chick
If fit, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry and Jack Willis are bankers. And, if we follow the paradigm set by Eddie Jones in 2019, that could be Steve Borthwick’s selection sewn up. Three flankers and two No 8s, one of whom can cover the flank, as well as a handful of locks – such as Maro Itoje, George Martin and Ollie Chessum – who can also play blindside.
That would be hideously unfair on the likes of Lewis Ludlam and Ben Curry (if fit), both of whom – especially the former – excelled in Borthwick’s inaugural Six Nations as head coach. So, too, for Ben Earl and Tom Pearson, the two outstanding flankers domestically this season. While Matt Rogerson was included on the longlist – his prowess as a line-out-jumping blindside catching Borthwick’s eye – the London Irish flanker, like Sam Underhill and Callum Chick will surely be only called upon in the event of an injury crisis.
No 8s
Billy Vunipola
Alex Dombrandt
Zach Mercer
Tom Willis
Sam Simmonds
For all the industry of England’s pack during the Six Nations, Borthwick’s side lack heavy-duty ball-carriers. Ellis Genge was asked to do far too much ball-carrying off slow ball to try to generate momentum. Alex Dombrandt, for all his silky skills and wily intuition, is not the No 8 that England’s pack needs – and he did not make the shirt his own during the Six Nations.
Similar could be said of Zach Mercer and Sam Simmonds; fine players, astonishing athletes at times, but they lack the ballast that England crave.
To that end, Billy Vunipola must come back into the reckoning, should he be fit enough after the hamstring injury that cut his season short. On his day and at full fitness, he is England’s best No 8. Borthwick is as astute a coach as they come – surely he will be able to get the best out of the gargantuan Saracen.
Tom Willis, Jack’s brother, is Saracens-bound next season after his Bordeaux jaunt – he has been beating defenders for fun on the Bay of Biscay. The No 8, who can also play six for extra versatility, is a direct ball-carrier capable of getting teams on the front foot. Hopefully he will be competing for Vunipola’s jersey on two fronts.
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10/06/2023 12:14
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