Coaching legend Sir Clive Woodward has selected his England team to play Argentina in their 2023 Rugby World Cup opener.
The 2003 World Cup winner selected three players from outside of Steve Borthwick's current 33-man squad, and also radically picked Freddie Steward at inside-centre.
Writing in his column for the Mail Online, Woodward stated: "It's time for Steve Borthwick to bite the bullet and tear apart England's World Cup squad after poor warm-up displays and bans."
Check out his full selection below.
#BACK-THREE:
15. Anthony Watson (Unattached)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
11. Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Woodward wrote: "I’d have Henry Arundell and possibly Max Malins on the wings but I’d seriously consider either Adam Radwan or Cadan Murley instead of Malins from outside the current squad."
#CENTRES:
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Fredie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Woodward wrote: "To get the most out of Smith, he needs a back line equal to his attacking talents and a licence to play. With this in mind, I would consider playing Freddie Steward at inside centre.
"Steward is a great defensive full back but England need a running threat there which is why I would play Anthony Watson. For too long England’s midfield thinking has been dominated by Manu Tuilagi.
"We need to get creative. Steward is strong defensively and he would do well in midfield."
He added: "It was a big call to leave out Slade in the first place but the paucity of the side’s back line displays in the last three weeks has shown England badly miss his footballing ability."
#HALFBACKS:
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
#FRONT-ROW:
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Theo Dan (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Woodward wrote: 'I like the look of Theo Dan at hooker with Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler"
#SECOND-ROW:
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Woodward wrote: "This will be the last World Cup for Lawes and possibly Itoje too. I want to see some real fireworks from our best two locks."
#BACK-ROW:
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
7. Ben Earls (Saracens)
8. Zach Mercer (Gloucester)
Woodward wrote: "Given his ban, Vunipola should not go to the World Cup. He is the only out-and-out No 8 in the squad and England can’t face Argentina with a non-specialist there. Ben Earl and Lewis Ludlam could do a job, but when a better No 8 is available you have to play him. I’d take out Vunipola and bring in Zach Mercer.
"Vunipola is not the player of four years ago. Mercer would bring some much-needed pace to the team. Vunipola can rejoin the squad if there are injuries in France, which is almost a given."
