HALFBACKS
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins) for Alex Mitchell
Once again the fly-half selection debate has reared it’s ugly head, however England fans are growing tired of the debate, and trust in their captain once again. Owen Farrell had a stunning outing against Fiji, and it could be argued that without him, England looked like a side set for a slip-up. Farrell bossed the game against the Pacific Islanders, and returned to his regular-scheduled position with great aplomb. Farrell is a fly half, and unfortunately for George Ford, he is a fly-half thats back in top form.
The match against South Africa could well come down to the narrow margins, with Farrell being an equally qualified place kicker, like his Sale Sharks teammate. Granted, Ford was hailed for his 27-point display in the opening round against Argentina, but Farrell added 20 points of his own against Fiji, and presented his ability to slot a drop goal to boot. As long as the Saracen keeps his eye on the count-down clock, and the tee is brought to him in time, England should fare just fine from the shots at the posts.
This leaves the question around who should partner Farrell at scrum half. Ben Youngs is the most experienced nine (or men’s England player for that matter), but has barely featured in the tournament in time for a late return to the squad. England fans have just shaken the memories of Young’s ‘pass to touch’ from the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against the Boks, with Danny Care being our pick for Saturday night’s semi-final.
Care has the high-stakes experience. The two-time Premiership winner has taken Harlequins to the grandest heights, and has a trio of Six Nations winners medals in his cabinet. Fans marvelled at Borthwick’s decision to pick ‘DC’ for an extended run at the Rugby World Cup, with Jack van Poortvliet injured, and Alex Mitchell could be well utilised off the bench to shake up the tempo.
FRONT ROW
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins) for Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears) for Dan Cole
There is increasingly reported speculation, that Joe Marler will be picked to start over Ellis Genge as England’s loose-head against South Africa. This is in no way a demotion for the ‘Baby Rhino’, but a Borthwick tactic to enable both men to play to their strengths at important moments of the match. Marler knows the big-fight pressure that the Springboks impose in the early scrums, and is the right man for the job from kick-off.
The Harlequin battled the ‘Boks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final, and he is still amongst the best loose-head scrummagers in the world. Marler will bring the tactical know-how to try and counter-act the early Springboks’ offensive, with Ellis Genge primed and ready to jump into action in a race to the finish, once Rassie Erasmus activates his ‘Bomb Squad’ from the bench.
Four years on after being knocked out in an early collision with Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler will be ready to make amends for the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final. The Bristol Bears prop has only been improving since the show-down in Japan, and has stepped up his set-piece game to no end. Now at 30-years-old, Sinckler has dropped the ‘hot-headed’ tag that made him a target in Yokohama, and will be an integral pillar in the England pack.
Jamie George will almost certainly start against the Springboks, as long as he avoids any unforeseen training injuries. England’s replacement hookers are too internationally inexperienced to take George’s spot, with the Saracen primed and ready for another big shift in the front row, having only missed nine minutes of action, in four Rugby World Cup matches (unselected against Chile).