Rugby World Cup diary: England make ten changes for United States clash
Scotland suffer double injury blow with Ali Price and Hamish Watson ruled out of the tournament
Jones makes ten changes
England head coach Eddie Jones has shuffled his team for the Rugby World Cup pool C clash against the United States on Thursday.
After the 35-3 win over Tonga Jones makes ten changes to his selection with only five players remaining from the line-up that featured in the pool C opener.
George Ford will captain the side while Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Elliot Daly and Joe Marler retain their places.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The players to come into the team are centres Jonathan Joseph and Piers Francis, wingers Ruaridh McConnochie and Joe Cokanasiga, scrum-half Willi Heinz, second rows George Kruis and Joe Launchbury, flanker Lewis Ludlam, front row Luke Cowan-Dickie and prop Dan Cole, who wins his 91st Test cap.
Captain Owen Farrell is on the bench but there is no place in the matchday squad for Henry Slade. Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell remain on the injury list.
Jones said: “The four-day turnaround is something we experimented with against Japan last autumn and so the players have had some experience of it. You have to make sure the two days before the game are exactly the same as you would normally have for any other game.
“So for us, a short and fast run tomorrow and today is an active recovery day. What I see now is players handling it really well but the game on Thursday will be the litmus test.
“It is our best 23 and we have looked at some players that would benefit not playing in this game so have kept them out of the 23. But it is a great opportunity for another set of players to do the team proud.”
Thursday’s pool C match between England and the United States will be held at the Kobe Misaki Stadium (11.45am BST, live on ITV).
England starting XV vs. United States
- 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Ruaridh McConnochie, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 George Ford (captain), 9 Willi Heinz; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 George Kruis, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Billy Vunipola
- Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Anthony Watson
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues free–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Price and Watson return home
Scotland scrum-half Ali Price has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup after suffering a foot injury in Sunday’s 27-3 loss against Ireland.
Price is the latest injury blow for Scotland after Hamish Watson was also sidelined for the tournament because of a knee injury.
Price and Watson will be replaced by Henry Pyrgos and Magnus Bradbury respectively in the Scotland squad.
Head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We’re disappointed for Ali to have to return home so early in the tournament. Both Ali and Hamish had invested a lot of effort into being in their best physical shape for the World Cup and it’s a shame that they’ve only been involved in one game.
“However, we have a lot of belief in our wider group and the two new players, Magnus Bradbury and Henry Pyrgos, who have been given this opportunity.”
Scotland’s next match is a pool A fixture against Samoa on Monday 30 September (8.15am BST).
Davies replaces Hill in Wales squad
Wales have also suffered an injury blow with second row Cory Hill failing to recover from a stress fracture of his fibula. He will be replaced in the squad by Bradley Davies.
The Welsh Rugby Union said: “Cory Hill has been released from Wales’ 2019 Rugby World Cup squad after being unable to recover significantly from a stress fracture of his fibula. He will return to Wales and continue his recovery with his region.
“Bradley Davies, capped 65 times by Wales and who has featured in two previous Rugby World Cups, has been named as his injury replacement and will arrive in Japan on Wednesday.”
Wales, who beat Georgia 43-14 on Monday, play next in pool D against Australia on Sunday 29 September (8.45am BST).
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues free–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
A World Cup every two years - for football and rugby union?
Pros and Cons Governing bodies of both sports are discussing the option of biennial tournaments
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published