Sam Warburton and Andy Goode answer your Rugby World Cup questions
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England will name their team to take on minnows Chile this afternoon, ahead of their third match at the Rugby World Cup this weekend.
England have produced a mixed bag at the tournament so far, as a disastrous set of warm-up games were somewhat washed away by a surprisingly impressive win over Argentina in their opener, with a retro drop goal strategy from the boot of George Ford stunning the Pumas in a 27-10 win.
A fairly dismal opening 40 minutes in their second game against Japan followed, as the attack failed to click, and although they pulled away from their opponents late on, it was a largely ugly 34-12 triumph. However, they did secure the four-try bonus point and are in complete control of Group C with nine points from a possible 10.
Underdogs Chile, competing at their first World Cup, now await in the third round of action and Steve Borthwick’s men will be expecting a comfortable victory to all but secure a quarter-final spot with a game to spare. Borthwick is expected to ring the changes as he announces his team for the contest in Lille, with skipper Owen Farrell set to return from his red-card ban at fly half, Marcus Smith to start at full back and Henry Arundell potentially coming in on the wing.
Follow live coverage of the announcement below, while you can get all the Rugby World Cup odds here.
1695321007Joe Marler uses his head to spare England’s blushes after error-strewn performance against JapanIt was a try that rather summed it all up. For 56 minutes, England and Japan had stumbled about, frantic, flustered and fumbling in the Nice heat. An error-ridden contest hung in the balance – until Joe Marler used his head.
It was fortuitous in nature, as it felt like it had to be on a night like this. An errant pass, a flick of Will Stuart’s shoulder and a bounce off the bonce. Courtney Lawes collected the refuse and England salvaged the situation. Maro Itoje had promised they were prepared to win by any means necessary but few expected them to need to put an equally error-prone Japan away.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 19:30
1695320107Lewis Ludlam urges booing fans to keep the faith after England’s win over JapanLewis Ludlam has urged booing fans to keep the faith after admitting that England could have shown more enterprise in their 34-12 World Cup victory over Japan.
Head coach Steve Borthwick declared it was job done as England took a stranglehold on Pool D through a bonus-point win, but after the 14-man rout of Argentina it felt like a backwards step had been taken on a messy evening at the Stade de Nice.
Early in the third quarter supporters groaned when Alex Mitchell – a live-wire scrum-half whose instinct is to run – booted the ball dead and the jeering grew in volume when the kicking continued.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 19:15
1695319207Marcus Smith starts as England full-back for first time against ChileMarcus Smith will provide a cutting edge from full-back as England look to give their attack lift off in their World Cup clash with Chile in Lille.
Harlequins fly-half Smith starts in the number 15 jersey for the first time having appeared as a replacement in the previous four Tests, providing a lively counter-attacking threat and extra playmaking option.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 19:00
1695318301Why are England kicking so much at the Rugby World Cup?Winning ugly, it is said, is a hallmark of great sides, but it can be an indicator of an average one, too. What, then, are England, who have one foot in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after beating Japan? For 60 minutes on Sunday, they produced a performance that only a mother could love – but a final quarter acceleration ensured they took five pool points away from a tricky evening.
It may depend on how you view a Rorschach contest of a game and the merits of England’s kick pressure strategy. Take the positives, as England were understandably inclined to afterwards, and a bonus point win was job very much done. Japan are not the force of four years ago but produced a stern defensive showing for good periods of the fixture. Their trademark attacking invention tested England’s own ramparts, but these held firm – one try conceded in two games is an excellent return.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 18:45
1695317401England cannot afford to ‘sleepwalk’ into Chile game, warns Ollie ChessumAfter two fixtures in the south of France, England will make a shorter trip from their Le Touquet training base across the north of the country to Lille for their third Pool D fixture on Saturday.
World Cup debutants Chile are, on paper, the weakest of the five nations in the pool, but the South Americans have caused problems for Japan and Samoa in their opening two matches in France.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 18:30
1695316501How England can solve the Owen Farrell and George Ford problemFor Steve Borthwick, it is a problem of plenty. In George Ford, Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith, the England head coach has three high-class fly halves – the question for the remainder of this Rugby World Cup is how best to utilise them.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 18:15
1695315601Borthwick describes Billy Vunipola’s impact “He’s a great influence in the squad,” he said about the Saracens player. “Whether he is on the field or not, he’s a brilliant influence. He’s played in the very biggest games. I thought he did well last week and has trained even sharper this week.”
Billy Vunipola is expected to return from suspension in England’s meeting with Japan (Niall Carson/PA).
(PA Wire)
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 18:00
1695315001Farrell describes his time away from being in the playing team and being a bad watcher “I don’t detach myself at all. I’m knackered by the end,” the captain said. “I wouldn’t describe myself as a good watcher – I feel involved and every emotion that goes with it, sometimes even more so than if I was playing. I wouldn’t say I am unbelievably loud, it’s more the emotion of the game. I feel like I go through it all the time.”
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 17:50
1695314401Farrell: “We always want to improve””I’m excited to play for this team. We are in a brilliant position as we stand here and we want to kick on. I want to be part of it,” Farrell said, eager to get back on the pitch.
“I think we have played very good, winning rugby. The team has figured out ways to impose themselves on the game and figured out how to close off games, which is a big plus. We always want to improve, there is always stuff you can do better. We are excited to get into it. Talking about the past, we are trying to deal with what is here now. In the first two games, we’ve figured out good ways to win the game,” he added.
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 17:40
1695313801Borthwick: “We’ve got to defend very well and give them no space””When you look at the team this weekend, you see a team packed full of talent. It’s got pace. This is a very good England squad packed full of players who know how to play smart rugby and win games,” Borthwick said.
“In terms of Chile, what we see is an incredibly committed team. They try to keep the ball alive. We’ve got to defend very well and give them no space. We have seen progression over this period of time and I am pleased with the way the team are building and looking forward to that next step on Saturday.”
Imogen Ainsworth21 September 2023 17:30
