According to England head coach Steve Borthwick, his World Cup squad of 33 players is nearly set, with just “one or two places” left to be decided.
The squad announcement is scheduled for Monday, and Borthwick revealed that he plans to bring three scrum-halves and three fly-halves to France for the tournament.
“Most of the 33 are pretty clear. There are obviously one or two places written in pencil which need to be written in pen,” Borthwick told BBC Sport.
With World Rugby increasing the squad size for the 2023 tournament, Borthwick says all six are all likely to travel.
“I think it is pretty clear given I have kept three scrum-halves and three fly-halves within the camp,” he said, meaning Danny Care and Marcus Smith will begin the final squad.
The head coach emphasised the immense value of position flexibility, placing a priority on players who can perform effectively in multiple roles.
“There is a need to be able to adapt,” he added. “We are going to have to do that during this tournament and we have kept our squad quite tight between each of our camps in terms of the number of players we have had in camp.
“I am really aware that there is going to be a need for the players outside the 33 that will be named on Monday to be ready to be the next man in.
“What I see with this squad now is that they have built togetherness and conditioning and a role clarity that anyone can slot into the 33.”
Four England stars set to quit international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Several England stars currently in the rugby spotlight have dropped hints suggesting that their international careers may conclude after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Below are the names of four players who have indicated their potential retirement from test rugby following the tournament.
#1. Jonny May
In November 2014, Jonny made a remarkable impact on the international stage when he scored his first-ever Test try against New Zealand. His incredible long-range run showcased his speed, flair, footwork, and agility.
Unfortunately, he faced an injury that prevented him from participating in the subsequent Six Nations and the Australian tour in June 2016. However, after a 13-month absence, he made a triumphant return, scoring a try against South Africa at Twickenham that November.
During the 2018 Six Nations, Jonny displayed his prowess by crossing the try line four times, including two crucial tries in the victory over Wales. His exceptional performances caught the eye of Eddie Jones, earning him a spot in the summer tour to South Africa.
In the three-Test series against the Springboks, Jonny emerged as the standout performer, finishing as the top scorer with three tries, including the match-winning score in Cape Town.
Continuing his impressive form, Jonny carried his momentum into the 2019 Six Nations, where he secured the title of top try scorer by crossing the line six times. On his 50th cap and on the road to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, he once again proved his worth by scoring two tries against Australia in the quarter-final.