England legend Will Greenwood believes Manu Tuilagi is back in contntion. to start for England at the Rugby World Cup.
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Following constant change in the midfield during the 2023 Six Nations, Greenwood believes Steve Borthwick should stick with the pair of Tuilagi and Henry Slade who started against Ireland.
He wrote in his column for The Telegraph: “Sometimes you don’t know what you are missing until a player comes back, and that was the case for England in Dublin with Manu Tuilagi.
“I think Ollie Lawrence has so much potential and Tuilagi’s form has been up and down at Sale. He will need managing, of course.
“He doesn’t have many club matches left this season. But, with him being present on the field and what happens around him, clattering into things – without being the Manu of 2012 when he destroyed New Zealand – he showed that for all the out-the-back plays and offloading and dynamism, you need someone who can give you that power in midfield for the Rugby World Cup.”
David Ribbans undroppable:
Greenwood continued: “A couple of areas where England were instantly better: Tuilagi and Dave Ribbans. They gave England that extra bulk which allowed England to play a bit more.
“I would even go as far as to say that Ribbans made himself undroppable. They love Ollie Chessum, and so that puts pressure on Maro Itoje.”
“Out of his depth”- Four England players who now need dropped, and who should replace them
Four players Steve Borthwick should drop – and who should replace them in the run up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Alex Dombrandt
RUCK 5/10: “Caught out defensively again. Poor.”
Telegraph 6/10: “Late hit on Sexton put England under pressure and he was left on an island chasing Van der Flier before Sheehan’s try. Better here, but was it enough long-term”
Planet Rugby 6/10: “The number eight didn’t quite rise to the occasion again, and while he did have some success with his carries, he still isn’t fronting up physically.
Rugby Pass 4.5/10: “With Zach Mercer back from France when England will next play he needed a big game following last week’s anonymity, but it didn’t materialise. Deserved kudos for holding Johnny Sexton up over the line off a penalty tap but otherwise struggled to impose himself in the first half. There was no impact carrying and his defence was exposed for the opening Irish try, getting flummoxed by the inside pass when trying to provide protection in the first channel away from a maul..”
Mail Online 5/10: “Challenge on Johnny Sexton gifted Ireland penalty in first half but did share of defending.”
Replacement: Zach Mercer
