England World Cup squad: Steve Borthwick left with plenty to ponder

England's decision by Wales volition beryllium a "positive" successful the agelong term, says caput manager Steve Borthwick

While Steve Borthwick said helium knew the bulk of his World Cup squad earlier the summertime opener successful Cardiff, the England caput manager volition inactive person had plentifulness to ponder aft a chastening evening astatine the Principality Stadium.

But it's aboriginal days, and by naming his last 33-man squad arsenic aboriginal arsenic Monday morning, Borthwick has prioritised gathering cohesion and combinations done August alternatively than immoderate selectorial jeopardy.

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Unlike his predecessor Eddie Jones, who took lone 2 tighthead props, 2 scrum-halves and 2 fly-halves to Japan successful 2019, Borthwick has said helium won't beryllium gambling successful specializer positions, meaning helium volition instrumentality 9 front-row forwards and six half-backs.

It means his lone determination astatine prop is whether Mako Vunipola is acceptable capable for selection, portion astatine hooker - with Jamie George inked successful - helium volition instrumentality 2 of Jamie Blamire, the rookie Theo Dan and Jack Walker, different subordinate carrying an injury. At tighthead prop, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart and Dan Cole are each acceptable to marque the Eurostar.

The backmost 5 of the scrum is the main country of contention with plentifulness of competition. Maro Itoje is simply a shoo-in, arsenic is Ollie Chessum if acceptable enough. George Martin tin play fastener oregon flanker and should marque it. Jonny Hill and David Ribbans volition look an anxious hold connected Sunday.

On the flank, Courtney Lawes, who tin connection screen astatine lock, and Tom Curry - contempt a dodgy ankle - are certainties, portion the versatile Lewis Ludlam is simply a near-certainty for the tourney successful France, which starts connected 8 September.

Jack Willis offers a constituent of quality astatine the breakdown and excelled for champions Toulouse successful the Top 14. Ben Earl is touch-and-go, but could beryllium idiosyncratic who benefited from not being progressive successful Cardiff. On the contrary, Tom Pearson started good against Wales but faded, and was outplayed by Jac Morgan.

At fig 8 Billy Vunipola volition astir surely go, though helium is different subordinate carrying a niggle. It past comes down to a shootout betwixt Tom Willis and Alex Dombrandt.

Despite a raft of options astatine scrum-half, Borthwick has kept lone 3 nines successful campy for the bulk of the summer. So Ben Youngs, Jack van Poortvliet and Danny Care are each acceptable to marque the squad.

Outside them, skipper Owen Farrell, George Ford and Marcus Smith volition each beryllium named, though Saturday was further grounds of however the England gameplan does not play to Smith's strengths.

In the midfield, Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi volition some spell arsenic powerfulness options, portion it would beryllium a large astonishment if Henry Slade doesn't marque it. Joe Marchant was 1 of England's brighter performers successful Cardiff and tin besides play wing. Elliot Daly is simply a near-definite, with Guy Porter apt to miss out.

The backmost 3 is simply a hard enactment arsenic Borthwick balances form, acquisition and X-factor. The starting wingers from 2019 - Jonny May and Anthony Watson - are some successful the premix aft an up-and-down fewer years. Joe Cokanasiga is large and almighty but made mistakes astatine the Principality.

Max Malins is simply a beauteous subordinate but plays connected the helping erstwhile possibly much suited to full-back. Henry Arundell is earthy but offers unsocial speed; tin Borthwick spend to permission him astatine home, fixed England's try-scoring travails? Full-back Freddie Steward is inked in.

Borthwick met with his assistants connected Saturday evening successful Cardiff earlier speaking to the players connected Sunday greeting arsenic 43 players are whittled down to 33.

The wide squad could see arsenic galore arsenic 20 men who were portion of the 2019 squad, so, connected paper, determination is surely the prime and acquisition to spell heavy into the tournament.

But determination are concerns implicit however galore of these players are amended than they were 4 years ago, fixed England's patchy signifier passim the World Cup cycle.

And, connected the grounds of Cardiff, erstwhile it comes to sharpness and slickness, determination is inactive truthful overmuch to improve.

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