Pool D toppers England have named a strong line-up in search of an emphatic win against Samoa to finish off a resurgent pool campaign.
Borthwick, it seems, has made a clear sign of intent for how he wishes England to play with Owen Farrell selected at 12, outside George Ford.
Borthwick and attack coach Richard Wigglesworth have resisted calls for England to persist with the Ford-Tuilagi-Marchant midfield combination that was so dominant in their opener against Argentina.
Instead, England’s captain returns to the 12 shirt despite calls for him to either start at fly half or drop to the bench. Marchant’s good form that dates back to the warm-ups isn’t without reward, however, as he is a shock inclusion on the right wing with Elliot Daly dropping out of the match day 23 altogether.
Borthwick’s mysterious management of England’s playmaking continues with Marcus Smith on the bench. With Ollie Lawrence the other backline cover, Smith will be expected to cover full back as he did so momentously against Chile.
Danny Care deputises for Alex Mitchell at scrum half, perhaps signalling the end of the Ben Youngs era as England head into the knockouts looking to confirm their best team and fire a warning shot to the competition.
Few had belief that England, heading into the tournament with three losses out of four warm-up games and a dismal Six Nations performance, would top their group so convincingly. Some even suggested that strong showings from Argentina and Japan – known as World Cup specialists in recent times – could see a more shameful exit from the pool stage than their infamous 2015 home World Cup.
However, England head into their final pool game against Samoa having already secured top spot of Pool D and qualification for a quarter-final against the runners up of Pool C, most likely Fiji.
England’s tumultuous build up to the tournament was epitomised by their first ever loss to Fiji in their final warmup game in front of a half-empty Twickenham. This was off the back of a defeat to a similarly out of sorts Welsh side, and an understrength Ireland, as well as a disheartening fourth-place Six Nations finish in Borthwick’s first period in charge.
But England fans now head into Saturday afternoon with reason to have their glasses half full. A memorably defiant display against Argentina that has left the Argentines out of sort ever since was followed by a frustrating, yet never-in-doubt win against other qualification challengers Japan.
Before last week’s bye, England thumped surprise package Chile 71-0, with Racing 92 bound starlet Henry Arundell sending himself to the top of the try-scoring charts with five tries. The prospect of England’s players relaxing in Disneyland for five days after week three might’ve prompted outrage before the tournament, but England seem close to expelling their pre-tournament demons and silencing the lowered volume of doubters.
Arundell, however, does not feature in the matchday 23. The preference of Marchant in his place, with Ollie Lawrence on the bench is ambiguous. With shades of Eddie Jones’ crowded midfield approach, is Borthwick struggling to find a solution to get his best players on the pitch? Is there a lack of faith in the squad’s depth? Or is he, whilst subverting expectation, conforming to cries for more exciting rugby in England’s backline.
Elsewhere, as expected, Tom Curry returns from suspension after his controversial red card two minutes into the Argentina opener. The flanker needs minutes ahead of the knockouts, with his starting place presumed despite impressive displays by Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlum at 7. Earl, England’s player of the tournament so far, retains his spot at number eight, but Vunipola covers from the Bench with George Martin.
The revolving door of tightheads also seems to be shut, with Dan Cole in place to add to his doubt-defying performance against Argentina and Kyle Sinckler set to replace him.
Whilst naysayers will say that England have yet to face a real challenge – a statement perhaps too dismissive of an Argentina side that won at Twickenham last Autumn – Borthwick’s team see Samoa as another opportunity to flex their muscles and gel on the pitch with Owen Farrell re-introduced and the squad having failed to do so before the tournament.
Samoa must also not be underestimated. With Jordan and James Lay, Theo McFarland, Steven Luatua, and Lima Sopoaga, their team boasts players more than familiar with English rugby. McFarland has been, amidst a below average Samoa team, one of the players of the tournament so far. McFarland terrorised Premiership defences for Saracens before a long-term knee injury last December, whilst Luatua captains Bristol Bears.
Sopoaga’s start at 10 is the headline change made for Samoa. Ill-discipline and a struggle to turn pressure into points have prevented them from victories in winnable games against Argentina with five cards coming their way, including a red to winger Ben Lam last week seeing him replaced by Naria Fomai. Sopoaga struggled during his spell at Wasps, so a lot of pressure will be on him to improve upon Christian Lealiifano’s outings so far.
With England in the driving seat, Saturday afternoon will be a litmus test for this England 23 ahead of the knockouts. Borthwick’s selection suggests he sees it as much. Will England’s midfield provide an 80 minute performance or will Marcus Smith have to save the day to increase the pressure to start him? Will either side be able to move past their discipline issues? Saturday afternoon is far from a dead rubber.
ENGLAND: Steward; Marchant, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), May; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Smith, Lawrence.
SAMOA: Paia’aua; Ah Wong, Manu, Toala, Fomai; Sopoaga, Taumateine; Jordan Lay, Malolo, Alaalatoa, Slade, Alainu’u’ese, McFarland, Lee, Luatua.
Replacements: Lam, James Lay, Alo-Emile, Fa’aso’o, Motuga, Matavao, Lealiifano, Fai’ilagi.
