FRONT ROW
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
We will see a changing of the guard in the front-row after the Rugby World Cup, with Joe Marler and Dan Cole expected to be out of the England fold as Borthwick looks to the future of his side. The two veteran props were fantastic against South Africa, and have been named on our bench for one last ride in the Bronze Medal match against Argentina. We predict Borthwick to reverse his picks for the semi-final, and start Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler from the get go.
The two Bristol props were amongst the ‘Borth Squad’, that ran on against the Springboks as Rassie Erasmus emptied his bench. As for the hooker, Jamie George is our predicted pick to once again lead the way, as England eye up Bronze medals to close out their campaign. George has been one of England’s hardest workers on the pitch, missing just 16 minutes of World Cup action and the walkover against Chile. Theo Dan waits patiently on the touchline once again, having watched his Saracens mentor as a three-time unused replacement.
SECOND ROW
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Steve Borthwick gave George Martin the nod to start against South Africa, having made four previous replacement appearances behind Ollie Chessum at the World Cup. We seem to have entered a power struggle for the number five jersey, with Martin amongst England’s top performers in their losing effort against the Springboks. The 22-year-old made an immense tackling effort against the bruising South Africans, before getting a well-earned break in way for his Leicester Tigers teammate.
Maro Itoje looks set to retain his number four jersey once again, in our predicted line-up for the Bronze Medal Final. The Saracen has silenced the critics throughout this World Cup campaign, and has hit his stride with some key work at the breakdown. Despite being one of England’s more experienced heads, Itoje is by no means stepping down from his country after the World Cup, and would want nothing more than a bronze-tinted send off for his long-time compatriots.
BACK ROW
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens)
This match against Argentina will mark the final England match in the decorated career of Courtney Lawes. It has been confirmed that the Northampton Saints man will call time on his international career after the Rugby World Cup, with over 100 test caps to his name for England, and as a two-time British & Irish Lion. We’ve picked Lawes to start on the blindside for one more run-out as vice-captain, to end an iconic career in the red rose.
Alongside Lawes is Tom Curry on the open-side flank, who will be after redemption following his second minute red card against Argentina in the World Cup opener. Curry has been emptying the tank in every appearance in France, with another strong outing set to gain him favour ahead of the 2024 Six Nations. Ben Earl is out choice to pack down the scrum, with Borthwick again looking to the future with Billy Vunipola likely entering the end of his England career. Earl has been nothing short of awesome in France, with one more big shift set to nail his name to Borthwick’s future back-row.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Theo Dan (Saracens)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks)
23. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)