BBC Sport users picked their team for England's 2023 World Cup two years Ago

Wednesday, 21 September 2022 at 07:50

byRugby Rucker

With just under three years when the Rugby World Cup gets under way, which stars will have muscled their way into the starting XV?

In total, the BBC had nearly 30,000 selected teams and the most popular player was second row Maro Itoje, who featured in 97% of line-ups.

His place was never really in doubt. But there were some marginal calls that will draw much more controversy.

Here is the line-up:

BBC Sport users pick their team for England's 2023 World Cup opener

BACK-THREE:

15. Anthony Watson - picked in 41% of teams
14. Jack Nowell - 22%
11. Jonny May - 47%

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 51 caps) during England Rugby training session at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 28 Sept 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

CENTRES:

13. Henry Slade - 35%
12. Manu Tuilagi - 26%

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

HALFBACKS:

10. Owen Farrell - 48%
9. Ben Spencer - 33%

FRONT-ROW:

1. Ellis Genge - 48%
2. Jamie George - 63%
3. Kyle Sinckler - 85%

SECOND-ROW:

4. Maro Itoje - 70%
5. Jonny Hill - 41%

Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK