Former England international Andy Goode has selected his 33-man squad for the fast approaching 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Head coach Steve Borthwick will confirm his final group for the showpiece tournament on Monday with this weekend’s match with Wales acting as a last chance balloon for some players.
Goode wrote I this column for Rugby Pass: “Steve Borthwick is one of the most meticulous and data driven head coaches around so, of course, selection isn’t going to based on one game but there are likely four or five spots in his World Cup squad not yet completely inked in and Saturday should play a decisive role.”
Regarding his old position, Goode added: “I have a feeling he’ll take all three fly halves as well because obviously Owen Farrell can play centre if required, Marcus Smith has x-factor and George Ford is someone Borthwick knows inside out and trusts to be a coach on the field.
“It’d be a massive call to leave any of them out, although taking all three probably does leave you a bit short in the back three, but if you were cutting one, it’d have to be Ford because of Smith’s ability to change a game from the bench.”
Check out his full squad list below.
Andy Goode’s England 2023 World Cup Squad
Forwards
Hookers: Jamie Blamire, Theo Dan, Jamie George
Props: Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart
