Chiefs duo named to face Wallabies
By Mark Stevens
17/10/19
Exeter Chiefs duo Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade have both been named in England’s squad for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia at Oita Stadium.
Slade will make his first start of the tournament, partnering Manu Tuilagi in the centre, while Cowan-Dickie provides back-up to hooker Jamie George from the bench. Sadly, there is no place for club-mate Jack Nowell, who misses out having picked up a hamstring injury.
The inclusion of Slade means a slight re-jig to the backline with skipper Owen Farrell reverting to fly-half and George Ford dropping to the bench.
Jonny May will make his 50th appearance for England on Saturday and is named on the left wing with Anthony Watson on the right. Elliot Daly is selected at full-back.
Up front, Billy Vunipola starts at No.8 having recovered from injury, while brother Mako makes his first start in Japan having played in his first game of the tournament against Argentina from the bench.
Jones said: “Once you get to the quarter-finals it’s about having the right mindset. We know how well we can play, it’s about us playing to our strengths and trying to take away from what Australia want.
“Australia are a clever team, they will have some specific attacking strategies to play against us so we need to have a great situational awareness. We need to defend with brutality and when we have the ball we need play on top of them.”
England starting XV to face Australia
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 36 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 39 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
12 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 37 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 49 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, capt 76 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 92 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 55 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 42 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 28 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 31 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 78 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 16 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 48 caps)
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 65 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 92 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 38 caps)
20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps)
22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 62 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)
