Sir Clive Woodward picks his England XV, tells Borthwick to leave out Pollock
Rugby NewsSunday, 02 November 2025 at 22:21
Wales face a big opener vs Argentina but have a strong chance to top this pool. Samoa adds intrigue as the dark horse.
Tries from warp-speed back-row pair Ben Earl and Henry Pollock helped England see off Australia in a 25-7 opening autumn Test at Twickenham. The power-packed bench ultimately turned an untidy game into a commanding win.
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WOODWARD LOVES POLLOCK… ON THE BENCH
Sir Clive Woodward singled out Pollock’s impact in his column for the Mail Online: "Henry Pollock was one of those. He was excellent, as were Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Tom Curry.
"When the likes of Pollock came on, England upped their already strong intensity to a whole new level again. Australia didn’t have an answer.
"Pollock is the sort of player and individual who can add an extra layer to any team just through his sheer force of personality. He is effervescent, a bundle of vibrant energy and a wonderful asset to this England team."
IMPRESSIVE, BUT NOT A STARTER
Despite three tries in just 36 minutes across two games, Woodward would keep Pollock on the bench for Fiji:
He added: "The forwards who made such a big impact against Australia will be pushing hard to start, especially Genge and Cowan-Dickie.
"But for me, I’d keep Pollock as a replacement for now despite the impressive nature of his Wallabies cameo. Borthwick is a consistent selector – and that is a good thing – so I’d be incredibly surprised if he ripped up his team for the Pacific Islanders."
WOODWARD’S ENGLAND XV
Steward; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje (capt), Chessum, Pepper, Curry, Earl.
Selection based on Mail Online column.
2027 RUGBY WORLD CUP DRAW
Organisers have confirmed the Rugby World Cup Draw will take place on 3 December 2025 – and it’s set to be a blockbuster
With the new six-pool format confirmed, here’s a projected draw based on current World Rugby Rankings — with Wales sitting in Band 2.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw
Pool A – “The Powerhouse Pool”
South Africa (Band 1) — Reigning World Champions, famed for their physical dominance and tactical brilliance.
Australia (Band 2) — Rugby hosts with a rich history and a passionate home crowd.
Japan (Band 3) — High-paced attackers who stunned the world in 2019.
Portugal (Band 4) — Rising force in European rugby, known for their scrappy determination.
? Storyline: South Africa vs Australia could be a World Cup final preview — Portugal and Japan will battle for third place.
Pool B – “The Six Nations Clash”
Ireland (Band 1) — Consistently at the top of world rugby, masters of strategic play.
Scotland (Band 2) — Brave and battle-hardened, with a history of giant-killing performances.
Spain (Band 3) — Emerging side bringing flair and unpredictability.
Romania (Band 4) — Rugby stalwarts with physical forward packs.
? Storyline: Ireland and Scotland renew their rivalry in a high-stakes pool. Spain could cause an upset.
Pool C – “The Wild Card Pool”
New Zealand (Band 1) — The All Blacks, rugby royalty with speed, skill, and killer instinct.
Fiji (Band 2) — Fijian flair and athleticism make them dangerous in any matchup.
USA (Band 3) — Big, athletic squad with growing ambitions.
Hong Kong China (Band 4) — Developing team looking to make an impact on the world stage.
? Storyline: Expect fireworks between New Zealand and Fiji; USA and Hong Kong will battle for the third spot.
Pool D – “The European Throwdown”
England (Band 1) — Powerful, well-drilled side with a deep tactical playbook.
Italy (Band 2) — Tough, resilient side with big scrummaging power.
Tonga (Band 3) — Physical, passionate, unpredictable warriors.
Canada (Band 4) — Experienced team, looking to build consistency.
? Storyline: England should lead this pool, but Tonga’s unpredictability makes this one dangerous.
Pool E – “The Battleground of Grit”
France (Band 1) — World Cup hosts in 2023, dynamic attackers, crowd favourites.
Georgia (Band 2) — Known for a dominant forward pack and fierce defence.
Uruguay (Band 3) — South American fighters with resilience to match their passion.
Zimbabwe (Band 4) — Underdogs aiming to shock the world.
? Storyline: France's depth makes them favourites, but Georgia could make it interesting.
Pool F – “The Wales Challenge”
Argentina (Band 1) — Tough, skilled, and battle-tested with World Cup pedigree.
Wales (Band 2) — Six Nations contenders with a blend of power and precision.
Chile (Band 3) — South American dark horse making their mark.
Samoa (Band 4) — Fierce underdogs with a proud history and attacking flair.
? Storyline:
EDITORS PICKS:
- Autumn Team Of The Week: Generational talents Pollock and Feinberg-Mngomezulu included
- Ireland coach Johnny Sexton swaps the rugby pitch for completely new career
- “1/10” – Five players who flopped in the opening round: 2025 Autumn Internationals
- “Worst decision ever” – Tadhg Beirne red card has split opinion
- “I’ll Take You All On” – New Angle Reveals What Sparked Ellis Genge Brawl
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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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