Chiefs duo on bench for All Blacks clash

By Mark Stevens
24/10/19

England men's head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to play New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi-final at Yokohama Stadium (KO 5pm local time, 9am UK time).

Captain Owen Farrell is named at inside centre with George Ford selected at fly-half and Manu Tuilagi at outside centre. Ford's inclusion means Exeter Chiefs star Henry Slade will drop to the bench, where he will join club-mate Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Billy Vunipola will play in his 50th Test match for England with Sam Underhill and Tom Curry also named in the back row. Jonny May will start on the left wing with Anthony Watson named on the right and Elliot Daly at full-back.

Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes are named in the second row, while Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler make up the front row.

Jones said: “Preparation has been good this week after a solid win against Australia. When you get to this stage of the World Cup it is all about focusing on being in the moment and getting yourself physically right.

“The squad has approached the game well with real maturity. It has helped having players here who have been on the Lions tour and played against New Zealand. They have been involved in some of the biggest games in world rugby so this semi-final won’t phase them.

“New Zealand is a great team, they have an impressive winning record since the last Rugby World Cup. Like any good team, you have to take away time and space from them and you have to find areas you can pressure them. We believe we have identified a number of areas where we can do that.”

Exeter's Jack Nowell has not been included in the match-day squad, despite appearing to have overcome the hamstring injury which ruled him out of last weekend's quarter-final win against Australia

England starting XV to face New Zealand

15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 37 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 40 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, capt 77 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 63 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 93 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 56 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 43 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 29 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 32 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 79 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 17 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 49 caps)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 66 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 93 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 39 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks 16 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 8 caps)
22 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)