SECOND-ROW:
- 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens) replace Curry as captain
- 5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) for Charlie Ewels (Bath)
Woodward wrote: “The pack allowed the tempo to slip way too often and the endless faffing around at scrum-time in the first half threatened to not only derail the match as a spectacle but England’s performance. It all seems so unnecessary and counterproductive. I don’t anticipate many changes in the pack although you fancy that England would profit from the solid presence of Joe Launchbury, whose nous would also be invaluable. I would put Courtney Lawes back into the second row with Maro Itoje for now.”
BACK-ROW:
- 6. ALfie Barbeary (Wasps) or Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs) for Courtney Lawes
- 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
- 8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Woodward wrote: “I’d add even more pace to our back row through Sam Simmonds or Alfie Barbeary from Wasps.”
