England fans pick their Rugby World Cup starting XV - and there's no room for Ben Youngs
Rugby NewsFriday, 30 August 2019 at 15:46
chosen England XV!
England fans have been asked to pick their Rugby World Cup starting XV - and there's no room for stalwart Ben Youngs - BY PAUL WASSELL.
Over the past week, Ruck has been asking members of our Facebook group to vote on their England XV in each position via a series of polls.
And it appears that supporters are more impressed with Willi Heinz than the stalwart playmaker
Here, we can reveal YOUR
Loosehead: Mako Vunipola - 151 votes
Mako Vunipola of England takes part in a training session during England Rugby Media Access at Pennyhill Park Hotel on August 23, 2019, Bagshot, England. (Photo by Phil Mingo/PPAUK)
Although he's still struggling with injuries, the Saracens
loosehead is still the fans' firm favourite to start for his country this World
Cup. Recently returned Joe Marler, whose self-imposed exile from international
duty has only just been reversed, is in distant second place.
loosehead is still the fans' firm favourite to start for his country this World
Cup. Recently returned Joe Marler, whose self-imposed exile from international
duty has only just been reversed, is in distant second place.
Runners up: Joe Marler - 40 votes, Ellis Genge - 28 votes
Hooker: Jamie George - 178 votes
BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Jamie George looks on during the England training session at Pennyhill Park on September 22, 2015 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
After spending years in the shadows of former captain Dylan
Hartley, Saracens hooker George has made the most of his opportunities and is
now way out in front to start in the front row.
Hartley, Saracens hooker George has made the most of his opportunities and is
now way out in front to start in the front row.
Runners-up: Luke Cowan-Dickie - 12 votes, Jack Singleton - 1 vote
Tighthead: Kyle Sinckler - 214 votes
Harlequins front rower Sinckler offers something very
different in attack and his scrummaging appears to have come of age in recent
times. Even though older head Cole is back in the reckoning, Sinckler is the
supporters' choice.
different in attack and his scrummaging appears to have come of age in recent
times. Even though older head Cole is back in the reckoning, Sinckler is the
supporters' choice.
Runners-up: Dan Cole - 41 votes
Second row: Maro Itoje - 242 votes & George Kruis - 139 votes
Saracens pairing Itoje and Kruis garnered the most votes and
would start together in the fans' team.
would start together in the fans' team.
Saints lock Lawes finished in third place and would get the
bench spot ahead of Launchbury. Whomever coach Eddie Jones goes with, he has
got some serious talent in the engine room.
bench spot ahead of Launchbury. Whomever coach Eddie Jones goes with, he has
got some serious talent in the engine room.
Runners-up: Courtney Lawes - 74 votes, Joe Launchbury - 44 votes
Back row: Billy Vunipola - 194 votes, Tom Curry - 171 votes, Sam Underhill - 151 votes
Sam Underhill of England goes on the attack during the Quilter International Match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on 10th November 2018. - PHOTO: Gareth Davies/PPAUK
Even though Curry and Underhill have only started one game
together in the same backrow, they were very impressive against Ireland at
Twickenham in the World Cup warm-ups and the opensides received far more votes
than Mark Wilson in distant third.
together in the same backrow, they were very impressive against Ireland at
Twickenham in the World Cup warm-ups and the opensides received far more votes
than Mark Wilson in distant third.
Runners-up: Mark Wilson - 37 votes, Courtney Lawes - 11 votes, Lewis Ludlam - 5 votes, Maro Itoje - 3 votes
Scrum-half: Willi Heinz - 201 votes
Youngs' poor form for club and country means he his position
at 9 is usurped by Gloucester's Heinz, who was until recently uncapped. Should
the less flashy but ultimately more consistent 32 year old be granted a
starting spot? The fans think so.
at 9 is usurped by Gloucester's Heinz, who was until recently uncapped. Should
the less flashy but ultimately more consistent 32 year old be granted a
starting spot? The fans think so.
Runners-up: Ben Youngs - 77 votes
Fly-half: Owen Farrell - 163 votes
Dejected looking Owen Farrell, Captain of England Rugby after the Guinness Six Nations Championship match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on February 23, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Saracens' Farrell is the clear favourite to start at
fly-half, even though George Ford has been selected at 10 for the warm-up
games. It appears the supporters are no fans of the Farrell/Ford 10/12 axis.
fly-half, even though George Ford has been selected at 10 for the warm-up
games. It appears the supporters are no fans of the Farrell/Ford 10/12 axis.
Runners-up: George Ford - 31 votes, Herny Slade - 3 votes, Piers Francis - 2 votes
Centres: Manu Tuilagi - 170 votes & Henry Slade - 98 votes
Manu Tuilagi of England surges forward amid the presence of Tommaso Allan of Italy during the Guinness Six Nations Round Four match between England and Italy at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 9th March 2019. Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
With Farrell starting at 10, England fans have opted for the
Tuilagi/Slade 12/13 combination that has been Jones' go-to pairing of late.
Tuilagi's fitness problems are hopefully behind him now, and his brute power
and excellent footwork combined with Slade's vision and impressive skills set
provide England with a balanced centre partnership - something they have
struggled to embed since the halcyon days of 2003.
Tuilagi/Slade 12/13 combination that has been Jones' go-to pairing of late.
Tuilagi's fitness problems are hopefully behind him now, and his brute power
and excellent footwork combined with Slade's vision and impressive skills set
provide England with a balanced centre partnership - something they have
struggled to embed since the halcyon days of 2003.
Runners-up: Owen Farrell - 32 votes, Jonathan Joseph - 12 votes, Piers Francis - 4 votes, Elliot Daly - 4 votes
Wings: Jonny May - 198 votes & Joe Cokanasiga - 158 votes
Jonny May of England scores a try during the Guinness Six Nations Round Two match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 10th February 2019. [Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK].
Two contrasting wingers are selected by England fans for
this World Cup: the unbridled pace of May with the juggernaut power of
Cokanasiga. Illustrating England's depth out wide, the likes of Nowell, Watson
and Daly all miss out, although Watson's absence might be explained by the
choice of 15 here.
this World Cup: the unbridled pace of May with the juggernaut power of
Cokanasiga. Illustrating England's depth out wide, the likes of Nowell, Watson
and Daly all miss out, although Watson's absence might be explained by the
choice of 15 here.
Runners-up: Jack Nowell - 70 votes, Anthony Watson - 18 votes, Elliot Daly - 13 votes, Ruaridh McConnochie - 3 votes
Fullback: Anthony Watson - 155 votes
Despite Elliot Daly having started all three of England's
World Cup warm-ups at fullback, questions over his defence and ability under
the high ball mean he misses out to Bath's Watson at fullback. With the
pressure cooker of a World Cup the ultimate defensive challenge for a 15, it
seems the supporters see Watson as a far safer option.
World Cup warm-ups at fullback, questions over his defence and ability under
the high ball mean he misses out to Bath's Watson at fullback. With the
pressure cooker of a World Cup the ultimate defensive challenge for a 15, it
seems the supporters see Watson as a far safer option.
Runners-up: Elliot Daly - 57 votes, Jack Nowell - 9 votes
Ruck Supporters' England World Cup XV:
1) Mako Vunipola
2) Jamie George
3) Kyle Sinckler
4) Maro Itoje
5) George Kruis
6) Tom Curry
7) Sam Underhill
8) Billy Vunipola
9) Willi Heinz
10) Owen Farrell (c)
11) Jonny May
12) Manu Tuilagi
13) Henry Slade
14) Joe Cokanasiga
15) Anthony Watson
Replacements:
16) Luke Cowan-Dickie
17) Joe Marler
18) Dan Cole
19) Courtney Lawes
20) Mark Wilson
21) Ben Youngs
22) George Ford
23) Elliot Daly/Jack Nowell
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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