2015 Rugby World Cup Team Preview: England

Head Coach Stuart Lancaster recently named his final 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup and it came down to being one of the toughest things he has ever done - he personally called each of the players in the squad who would not be representing the side at the RWC with the news.

With the inclusion of Sam Burgess into the side after playing rugby for a mere 12 months and getting the nod with only one test cap to his name has some critics wondering if Lancaster has made the right choice.

The English are in Pool A or otherwise known as the “pool of Death” where they will match up against Australia, Wales, Fiji, and newcomers, Uruguay.

Thus, we can conclude that Stuart Lancaster and his side will have a great build up towards the final stages of the competition with great matches against their tough and top fellow pool rivals.

If they make it through the pools unscathed and unbeaten, the English will be full of confidence for the finals.

Yet in many ways, they have the most to lose in this year’s tournament behind the current holders New Zealand. England are widely regarded by many as the best team in Europe, but recent years have proved otherwise in crunch matches. Against their recent past failings, the factor most in their favour is that they are hosts for the first time since co-hosting alongside the rest of the UK and neighbours France in1991.

And on paper, and in form, Lancaster has chosen a team with viable options and great depth and will open their campaign against Fiji at Twickenham on the 18th September 2015. I will be there with bated breath (come on Fiji!).

My World Cup Prediction:

The English side will definitely make the semi finals but I don’t see them getting any further - I see them finishing third.

England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup squad

Props

Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 10 caps) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps) Joe Marler (Harlequins, 32 caps) Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 22 caps) David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)

Hookers

Jamie George (Saracens, 1 cap) Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps) Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)

Second row

George Kruis (Saracens, 8 caps) Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 23 caps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 39 caps) Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)

Back row

James Haskell (Wasps, 60 caps) Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 28 caps) Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 38 caps) Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps) Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 37 caps)

Scrum halves

Danny Care (Harlequins, 52 caps) Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 22 caps) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)

Fly halves

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 30 caps) George Ford (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)

Centres

Brad Barritt (Saracens, 22 caps) Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 1 cap) Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 12 caps) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)

Back three

Mike Brown (Harlequins, 38 caps) Alex Goode (Saracens, 18 caps) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps) Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)