2. Back Row: Courtney Lawes v Michael Leitch
Due to the continued suspension absence of England fly half Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes has recently been bestowed the captain’s armband for the early rounds of the Rugby World Cup. With an adaptability to play in the second row and anywhere across the back of the scrum, Borthwick has selected the Northampton man as his go-to blindside flanker. Lawes’ opposite man is Japan’s captain Michael Leitch, which makes up a significant back-row battle between the two leaders.
Both men prefer to adopt the same ‘head down, work hard’ philosophy, and leave the jubilant celebrations to their less laid-back teammates. Firm believers in letting their actions do the talking, Lawes and Leitch will rarely be seen complaining to the referee, as they prefer to take matters into their own hands. Amongst the hardest-hitters in this match, and the wider competition as a whole, Lawes and Leitch get as much of a kick out from nailing a dominant tackle, than some players do in scoring a try.
Both men also have an astute understanding of the breakdown, and often receive the plaudits for stealing the ball for a turnover. Lawes’ contributions at the ruck were essential in England’s win over Argentina, as the Saints man stole the ball four times with England pinned back. Leitch had less pressure on his side in the comfortable win over Chile, yet had to make 15 tackles against the fiery South Americans. Leitch has already started his World Cup scoring with a try in the win over Chile. He would want nothing more than to double his tally this weekend against England.
3. Centre: Manu Tuilagi vs Ryoto Nakamura
The third key battle we have chosen to highlight comes in the centres, with England’s Manu Tuilagi lining up against Ryoto Nakamura of Japan. There are few centres in World Rugby that possess more power than Tuilagi, with the Sale Sharks man taking the advantage in the physical battle. England have been utilising Tuilagi on the crash ball with great effect, with the centre ready for a collision with Nakamura down his channel.
Ryoto Nakamura carried for 42 metres with the ball in hand against Chile, and presented his qualities as a ball playing centre with 10 well worked passes to his integrating forwards. Tuilagi did not register enough metres with the ball to make it into England’s top five on the front foot against Argentina, with Nakamura’s efforts seeing him surpass all but George Ford and Joe Marchant in the past weekend’s charts. Nakamura added to these efforts with a try after 71 minutes, showing his ability to perform at his best, for an exhausting duration in the 35 degree heat.
Nakamura and Tuilagi seem to have different approaches to the centre of the park in the early stages of the Rugby World Cup. Nakamura digs his heels in to make the consistent yards outside of the spotlight, whilst Tuilagi’s strengths are in the short bursts of energy, with high octane carries and dominant tackles. We are set up for an intriguing clash in the midfield this Sunday, with Nakamura anticipating some heavier artillery thrown his way, that he had in the cruising win over Chile.