CHRIS FOY: Steve Borthwick has taken a big gamble for England’s World Cup opener against Argentina… bringing in Jonny May and Alex Mitchell is risky, and he badly needs the team’s stellar names to stand up and be counted
- Borthwick has handed starts World Cup starts to Jonny May and Alex Mitchell
- May has been out of the frame in recent times, while Mitchell is inexperienced
- Borthwick’s side are formidable on paper, but need established stars to perform
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
It’s fair to say that this isn’t the starting line-up anyone would have predicted for England’s World Cup opener, when their training camp began a few months ago.
So much has changed. So much disruption has occurred; notably the bans which have ruled Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola out of contention for this crucial Pool D fixture against Argentina.
England are having to cope without two senior figures who would have featured in their XV on Saturday, so some of the selection surgery carried out by Steve Borthwick has been enforced.
That is certainly the case in the back three, as one wing place which would have had Anthony Watson’s name on it until the Lion suffered a calf injury which ruled him out of this tournament. But once he was removed, the subsequent chain of events has been decidedly unexpected.
Jonny May scored a try in the defeat against Fiji – the first by an England back for six hours of match time – yet he also endured some troubles as the visitors registered a shock victory at Twickenham. Yet, the Gloucester veteran has now leapt ahead of Max Malins and Henry Arundell to claim a starting place in this side to take on the Pumas.
Jonny May has been brought in from the cold after originally being left out of England’s World Cup squad
Alex Mitchell will also start against Argentina in another shock selection call by Borthwick
Mitchell has got the nod over experienced duo Danny Care and Ben Youngs to replace the injured Jack van Poortvliet (pictured)
It is a remarkable shift in thinking from Borthwick and his assistants, in a relatively short space of time. Time will tell if they are calmly adapting, or panicking. May wasn’t seen as worthy of a place in their chosen 33 for the World Cup, now, all of a sudden, he is in the first-choice team. Perhaps it is a reflection of the management’s desire to put their faith in precious big-game experience for this daunting assignment.
But the opposite applies at scrum-half, where Alex Mitchell has been preferred to the veterans, Danny Care – who has a replacement role – and Ben Youngs, England’s most-capped male player. The young Saint can provide tempo in attack which is desperately needed, but it is of limited value if George Ford is ordered to keep implementing a predominantly territorial, aerial game-plan.
Borthwick’s side will have someone with pace and daring intent as the link between forwards and backs, but the concern is that Mitchell’s heads-up instincts will be quelled in the interests of following orders. If that is the case, his inclusion is not logical. All England fans must hope that he has been selected with a mandate to play as he does for Northampton.
May has unquestionable pedigree as a proven finisher, but his task will be to prove beyond any doubt that he remains a deadly force, after a protracted period when injuries and indifferent form have created a sense of career stagnation. He certainly won’t lack motivation, as one of the most dedicated and professional characters in the squad.
In terms of the competition for wing places, it is a concern that Arundell appears to have hit an early plateau after his emergence as a stunning, X-factor talent last year. At London Irish and with England Under 20s, he illuminated the second half of the 2021-22 season with his electric brilliance and scoring feats, then marked his Test debut with a try against Australia in Perth.
Henry Arundell’s career has plateaued after early promise and he has not made the squad for England’s World Cup opener
Borthwick has made several big calls, including starting Dan Cole and bringing Tom Curry straight back in after injury
But more recently, he has struggled to make an impact. He has been reduced to chasing kicks and waiting in vain for passes. While he was carrying a slight injury last month, if he is fully fit – as per the official bulletins – it would be good to see such a precious young talent given an extended run in the team, give England some cutting edge and create a buzz among the watching public at home.
Any showdown with Argentina will require an almighty pack performance, and Borthwick is relying on experience and reputations up front.
Tom Curry is straight back in to start, despite not playing since late May. Whatever England say, that is a gamble, although Curry’s staggering levels of training commitment mean he will be as ready as anyone could be in the circumstances.
Ben Earl can function well at No 8, but is a lighter, faster model than Billy Vunipola, which means others will be expected to pick up the hard-carrying slack, notably Manu Tuilagi and Ellis Genge. In the front row, the inclusion of Dan Cole at tighthead is all about fixing recent scrum problems so England can’t afford more set-piece struggles.
In the second row, Maro Itoje is untouchable but is still searching for a semblance of his vintage, imperious best form and Ollie Chessum is included despite a lack of game-time since recovering from his broken ankle.
England desperately need Maro Itoje to rediscover his best form at the World Cup
They also need Manu Tuilagi to step up after a difficult period for England’s backs
In theory, it is a powerful combination. In practice… let’s wait and see. Borthwick needs that pairing to counter the ferocity and might of the Pumas.
On paper, England appear formidable, but there are asterisks next to so many stellar names – even the previously ultra-dependable Freddie Steward endured some wobbles at full-back during the faltering warm-up series.
As for the bench replacements, they are as expected, with Theo Dan and Lewis Ludlam capable of adding second-half dynamism, while back-line reserves Care, Marcus Smith and Ollie Lawrence can bring an extra dimension – with Smith to be unleashed at full-back.
The perception is that this has all been thrown together in a hurry, with combinations forged out of adversity and uncertainty. Once again, England have plenty of quality parts but what they do not have is a carefully-constructed machine. It is too late for that now. Borthwick must hope that it all falls into place on the big night.
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