"Anglo-Welsh XV" - Picking Combined England and Wales Squad Ahead of Twickenham Rematch

Both sides have undergone a re-shuffle from last week, as the two Head Coaches look to identify their strongest squads for next month's Rugby World Cup. Gatland has made a massive 20 changes from the side that ran out victorious over England, with opposing Head Coach Steve Borthwick naming 11 new players, after releasing nine for his refined Rugby World Cup squad.

Gatland is yet to name his official Rugby World Cup squad, with his selections to be decided throughout the 2023 Summer Nations Series. With all the recent squad updates from England and Wales, we got thinking about what an 'Anglo-Welsh XV' would look like, with Gatland and Borthwick at the helm for a Rugby World Cup campaign.

Amongst the best fullbacks in the world, and arguably the best back-three player under the high ball, Freddie Steward gets the nod to start at fullback for this combined XV. Steward sees-off tough competition from Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams, with the two veterans dropped to the bench, to add versatility across the back-three. Steward can't be budged following some stellar recent form.

It is impossible to ignore the high-octane attributes that Louis Rees-Zammit brings to the Welsh squad. Amongst the fastest players in world rugby, Rees-Zammit is our pick to start on the right wing, despite heavy competition from England speedsters Henry Arundell and Max Malins. Rees-Zammit edges the duo on his power game, for this spot in the Anglo-Welsh XV.

Flying Wales winger Josh Adams is the best choice for an out-and-out left winger, for this combined country. Adams enters the fray with a decorated CV of international experience, and the specialism to cut in off the left wing, or go it alone to score in the corner. Adams is set to hit his 50th Wales cap in tomorrow's fixture, with competitive newcomers Rio Dyer and Tom Rogers keeping the Cardiff man at his very best for his country.

Experience speaks volumes at the international level, with battle-tested George North still comfortably at the top of his game. North's try against England put the match beyond all doubt in Cardiff, and he is a priceless asset in Warren Gatland's relatively inexperienced wider training group. North guided Max Llewellyn through the ropes for his Wales debut last weekend, presenting high quality leadership that would benefit this combined XV.

Manu Tuilagi is back at his bulldozing best, with high expectations on him to keep match-fit for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Tuilagi is yet to feature in England's Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, with Borthwick giving out opportunities to fringe players Guy Porter and Henry Slade, before he whittled down the squad. Tuilagi won't feature against Wales tomorrow with Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant getting the nods, but the Sale centre would slot in well for a formidable partnership with North.

10. Owen Farrell (England and Saracens) (Captain)

After much deliberation, we have decided to pick Saracens talisman Owen Farrell to lead the line at fly half. There are three viable options from England alone, as Borthwick juggles with the Farrell-Smith-Ford conundrum. Wales' best offer for the number 10 jersey is experienced halfback Dan Biggar, with Owen Williams in-tow ahead of young gun Sam Costelow. Farrell is our pick for this Anglo-Welsh squad, and he would also captain the side out at the Rugby World Cup.

Following the self-withdrawal of Wales scrum half Rhys Webb, we have decided to look towards Borthwick's former Leicester Tigers man Jack van Pootvliet, to take up the reigns at scrum half. Webb's departure to Biarritz left a vacancy in the Welsh nine jersey, that a returning Gareth Davies is leading the way to occupy. We give this one to JVP, who is surpassing the mantle of his Tigers mentor Ben Youngs. However Davies is a close runner up for the spot.

Amongst the conversation of world rugby's best loose-head props, Ellis Genge is our pick to start off the selection in the forwards. The Bristol Bears man has come along way since his days as the hot-headed 'Baby Rhino', and whilst the nickname has stuck, Genge's approach to leadership in the big games has drastically increased. A two-test captain for England, Genge is eyeing up his 50th cap, should he come off the bench at Twickenham tomorrow evening.

Wales have been dealt blow after blow in the forwards, as ahead of the Rugby World Cup they have lost several important veterans. Hooker Ken Owens has been unable to recover from a back injury, with the 2023 Six Nations captain's vacancy initially filled by a returning Ryan Elias. However, Elias' comeback from Achilles Tendon surgery ended in a nightmare, with a reported hamstring injury suffered against England last weekend. Elliot Dee is a viable option, but England's Jamie George gets our pick to add experience and proven big-match success to the front row.

71-cap test match tight-head Tomas Francis gets our pick for the Anglo-Welsh XV. Francis has been a reliable hard-hitter both in the scrum and around the park, since he broke onto the seen for Wales in the Summer Series ahead of 2015 Rugby World Cup. England present two viable contenders for this spot, with long-standing tight-head Kyle Sinckler, and the latest challenger for his jersey in Will Stuart.

On his day, Itoje is as good as any lock in world rugby. The Saracen boasts a proven track record of success, in the Premiership, Champions Cup, and on the international stage in the Six Nations. Despite performing under his high expectations in the latest Six Nations, Itoje rallied back for the closing matches of the competition, and looks to be on track to hit top gear ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Similar to the hooker position, Wales find themselves at a loss in the row following the recent withdrawal of legendary lock Alun Wyn Jones. The most experienced lock duo remaining in Gatland's side is the Will Rowlands and Adam Beard combination, with Beard hailed as the heir to Alun Wyn. Beard gets our pick to pack down the row with Itoje, after stunning performances in the 2022 Six Nations ignited his maintained fanfare.

Despite Courtney Lawes' versatility across the locks, Steve Borthwick has made it abundantly clear in his Rugby World Cup squad, that he will be utilising the Northampton Saints man as a back-rower. We've picked Lawes to slot in on the blindside for this Anglo-Welsh XV, with England teammate Lewis Ludlam in close contention. Wales' best offering for the blindside comes in hard-hitting veteran Dan Lydiate, yet Lawes getting our approval to run out in the six jersey.

Despite his brother Tom not making the cut for Steve Borthwick's Rugby World Cup squad, Jack Willis has muscled his way into the set-up, along with our Anglo-Welsh XV. The international retirement of Wales stalwart Justin Tipuric has opened up an immense vacancy on the Welsh openside flank, which Jac Morgan is stepping up tallest to fill. Willis gets our pick after shining in the Top 14 with Toulouse, and is a man England fans are excited to see run out in his adopted home country of France.

Taulupe Faletau was almost written out of contention for this combined squad due to injury, however recent reports have stated that Warren Gatland is backing Faletau to be fit for the Rugby World Cup. The Cardiff back row is a colossal presence around the park, and leads our Anglo-Welsh pecking order, ahead of his cousin Billy Vunipola, and Wales teammate Aaron Wainwright. Borthwick has not selected another specialist number eight besides Vunipola, with Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Lawes, Willis and Ludlam making up the remaining back-row contingency.

16. Joe Marler (England and Harlequins)

17. Dewi Lake (Wales and Ospreys)

18. Ollie Chessum (England and Leicester Tigers)

19. Jac Morgan (Wales and Ospreys)

20. Ben Youngs (England and Leicester Tigers)

21. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales and Scarlets)

22. Marcus Smith (England and Harlequins)

23. Liam Williams (Wales and Kubota Spears)

24. Christ Tshiunza (Wales and Exeter Chiefs)

25. Nick Tompkins (Wales and Saracens)

26. George Ford (England and Sale Sharks)