Mike Brown believes England boss Steve Borthwick should make a number of major changes for the fast approaching 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Put Marcus Smith on the bench
Brown wrote: "I am still not 100 per cent sold on the Marcus Smith - Owen Farrell partnership at 10 and 12.
"They didn’t play that badly but I think Borthwick should play guys in their natural positions.
"Put Marcus on the bench. Owen is captain so he has to start – it is a tough call but it’s the sort of call the new head coach has got to make.
"He has made some big decisions already but this would be the biggest. It would suit them team much better to have a proper 12 like Ollie Lawrence."
Marcus Smith of England on the break beats Sione Tuipulotu of Scotland and Pierre Schoeman of Scotland during the Six Nations Championship, Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 4th 2023. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Olie Lawrence facts:
- He plays for Bath, moving from Worcester Warriors in 2022 after the club went into administration
- Lawrence has a pool table in his house and plays regularly
- He could have been a footballer, telling
Rugby World: “I played football and was involved in the academies at Aston Villa and Birmingham City. I stopped when I was ten as I didn’t like the environment. I also played cricket and at 16 I had to choose. I went for rugby as I enjoyed it more.”
- He is a fan of cricket and darts
- He has said he looked to England team-mate Manu Tuilagi to improve his own game. He told The Guardian: “I wanted to emulate him (Tuilagi) because the way he played excited me; that’s probably how my game evolved, watching players like him”
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) of England is tackled by Owen Farrell (Saracens) of England during the England Rugby Training camp at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre, Pennyhill Park on 25 Jan. 2023 Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#2. Bring Anthony Watson in
Brown added: "I would get Anthony Watson in the starting team. It is not because the other guys have played badly but on his day he is world class and adds some experience to the backline especially if you have a novice at inside centre."
Anthony Watson of England during the England Rugby Training camp at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre, Pennyhill Park on 30 Jan. 2023 Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Anthony Watson facts:
- His uncle, Mark Watson, was one of the Concorde pilots. His two brothers, Marcus (Wasps) & Callum (Loughborough Students) are also rugby players
- His full name is actually Anthony Kenneth China Watson.
- He’s best mates with fellow Bath and England man, Jonathan Joseph.
- The fullback has previously talked about a desire to play American Football. His hair already bears a similar shape to that of New York Giants – the team Watson supports – wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior.
#3. One change to the forward pack
Brown wrote: "The forwards did pretty well, they were dangerous in attack and the only tweak I would make there would be to start Ben Earl instead of Ben Curry.
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Dejection for Ben Earl of England after the Six Nations Championship, Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 4th 2023. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Mike Brown England XV: Steward, Malins, Marchant, Lawrence, Watson, Farrell, van Poortvliet, Genge, George ,Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, Earl, Dombrandt
